Chapter 343: Blaze Bug Cave

The night sky hung low, with a dazzling river of stars stretching across the heavens. The starlight bathed the desert, creating a dreamlike and surreal landscape.

Tonight, the winds were still—one of the rare “peaceful” nights in Northern Huangtian.

A gentle breeze swept through the sand, causing the reflected starlight to ripple like waves.

Gu Ning’an walked leisurely across the boundless sea of sand. Perched on his shoulder, Doubao widened its tiny “bean eyes,” dutifully performing its role as a navigator.

The desert was vast, with an endless, identical horizon in every direction. At night, navigation became even more difficult.

However, for Doubao, finding the way in this desert was no challenge at all. Every time it spoke, it carefully chose the shortest route, saving Gu Ning’an considerable effort.

After walking for over half an hour, they spotted a curved sand dune ahead.

Doubao spoke softly, “Mr. Gu, this is where my kind—the Blaze Bugs—gather. All the Blaze Bugs in Northern Huangtian are born here.”

Looking at the cave beneath the dune—just about the height of a person and two zhang wide—Gu Ning’an nodded with a smile. “Then, I’ll trouble you to announce my visit.”

“Announce?”

Doubao wiggled slightly. “Mr. Gu, you can just go in directly. Many in the demon race rely on Blaze Bugs for illumination. They all come here without announcing themselves.”

“That’s because they lack manners,” Gu Ning’an replied, looking at Doubao seriously. “When visiting others, one should always announce their presence. It’s a sign of respect—not just for others, but also for oneself.”

Doubao nodded, somewhat understanding. “Alright, I’ll go announce your visit.”

“Go ahead.”

As Gu Ning’an’s words fell, Doubao flapped its wings and swiftly disappeared into the cave.

After about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Doubao emerged again, glowing with a warm yellow light. It hovered in midair and called out, “Mr. Gu, Granny invites you inside. I’ll lead the way.”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an smiled and nodded before following Doubao into the cave beneath the sand dune.

The cave entrance was narrow, its walls rough and hardened by time, forming various shapes through erosion.

Yet, the cave was not dark. Every ten steps or so, a Blaze Bug acted as a natural lantern, illuminating Gu Ning’an’s path forward.

He could clearly sense that as he walked deeper inside, many Blaze Bugs, curled up and glowing, slowly unfurled their bodies to curiously observe him.

Clearly, visitors to the Blaze Bug Cave were rare.

After several hundred steps through the winding tunnels, Gu Ning’an passed through an arched doorway, and the space suddenly opened up.

This was the heart of the cave. Unlike the narrow tunnels, this area was vast and expansive. Looking up, he saw jagged rock formations, their surfaces covered with countless glowing Blaze Bugs, emitting a soft radiance.

At a glance, it was as if a brilliant galaxy had unfolded above.

Buzz!

A loud, intense wingbeat echoed through the air!

A Blaze Bug nearly a hundred times the size of Doubao flew to Gu Ning’an’s front.

“I am Granny Blaze. My old age makes movement difficult, so I was unable to greet you at the entrance. I hope you can forgive me, sir.”

The massive Blaze Bug spoke in the voice of an elderly woman—slightly hoarse but filled with warmth and sincerity.

Gu Ning’an cupped his hands and smiled. “Granny, you’re too kind. My visit today was abrupt. If I’ve been discourteous in any way, I ask for your forgiveness.”

Watching Granny Blaze and Mr. Gu converse with mutual respect, Doubao recalled what Gu Ning’an had said earlier—’Respecting others is respecting oneself.’

It had never seen anyone treat the Blaze Bug race with such kindness before.

At the same time, it had never seen Granny Blaze treat a visitor with such courtesy.

Granny Blaze smiled. “May I ask what brings you here, sir?”

Gu Ning’an cupped his hands and said seriously, “I have come here today to hire all the Blaze Bugs in this place to help me transport some items.”

“Transport items?”

“All the Blaze Bugs?”

Granny Blaze looked puzzled. “Sir, we Blaze Bugs can carry objects, but we are small and weak. There is a limit to what we can move. If you need transporters, you’d be better off hiring demon laborers.”

“After all, their costs would be far more economical than hiring the Blaze Bug clan… They can be paid in gold and silver, whereas we Blaze Bugs require spiritual energy.”

Gu Ning’an shook his head and smiled. “Granny, you might not be aware, but I intend to send the Blaze Bugs to Great Wu’s neighboring lands to transport gold and silver.”

“I had Doubao test it already. A fifty-tael silver ingot—it can easily lift one.”

Granny Blaze asked, “Doubao?”

Doubao buzzed forward excitedly and chirped, “Granny, it’s me! It’s me!”

“That’s the name Mr. Gu gave me!”

“Is that so…” Granny Blaze gazed at the fluttering Doubao, her eyes filled with the gentle affection of an elder. “Doubao… It’s a lovely name. Have you thanked him for bestowing it upon you?”

Doubao traced a small arc in the air. “I have, of course I have!”

“That’s good.”

Granny Blaze smiled, then turned back to Gu Ning’an and continued, “Mr. Gu, our Blaze Bug clan may be weak, but we are still demons. If only a small number of us were to leave Northern Huangtian, the two True Immortals guarding this land might not interfere.”

“But if we were to leave in full force, they would act without hesitation…”

“In the face of True Immortals, we are only slightly stronger than ants…”

Gu Ning’an waved a hand dismissively. “That won’t be a problem. True Immortal Ling Xi, who oversees Northern Huangtian, is an acquaintance of mine. I believe they would be willing to grant me this favor.”

To be able to request a favor from a True Immortal?

Granny Blaze examined Gu Ning’an carefully, a hint of doubt in her heart.

At first glance, she had even mistaken him for an ordinary mortal.

It was only after sensing the pure spiritual energy within Doubao that she realized Gu Ning’an must possess profound cultivation, beyond her ability to perceive.

But she had encountered many individuals she couldn’t see through before… and those who could claim favors from a True Immortal—at least in Northern Huangtian, there were none. Perhaps in the entire world, there were only a handful… unless he himself was also a True Immortal?

“Mr. Gu, I can sense that you sincerely respect and bear goodwill toward our Blaze Bug clan.”

“However…” Granny Blaze’s tone suddenly shifted as she spoke solemnly, “I cannot gamble with the lives of all Blaze Bugs.”

“Even if we are as fleeting as mayflies, we should at least have something to live for…”

“Moreover, our Blaze Bug clan numbers in the tens of millions… Such an enormous amount of spiritual energy—I’m afraid even you, sir, would struggle to provide that all at once.”

“So, forgive this old one for saying… Mr. Gu should seek another alternative.”

Seeing her concerns, Gu Ning’an had no way to prove that the two True Immortals would indeed grant him this favor.

After all, he couldn’t very well summon the True Immortals guarding Northern Huangtian just to have them vouch for him in person—that would be far too improper.

“Granny Blaze, I do not intend to offer spiritual energy as compensation,” Gu Ning’an said after a brief pause.

Granny Blaze let out a puzzled hum before asking, “Then what does Mr. Gu intend to offer?”

Gu Ning’an smiled. “I plan to offer the Blaze Bug clan a cultivation technique… as payment.”