Chapter 176: Transmigration into the Ghost Domain (Part 8)

Lin Fan hovered high in the air, with lightning crackling across his body.

He looked at the Ghost Tooth Hedgehogs scurrying away in panic on the ground and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

This was the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, a full thirty-six bolts of lightning. Since they had already run away after just one bolt, wouldn't the remaining thirty-five be wasted?

His gaze tightened. Adhering to the principle that waste is shameful, he lunged toward the fleeing Ghost Tooth Hedgehogs.

Seeing this, Cuier called out anxiously, "Young Master Bai…" But before she could finish, Lin Fan had already sped away, carrying the surging power of lightning, leaving her, Mo Chen, and the others to look at each other in bewilderment.

Lin Fan quickly caught up with the fleeing pack of Ghost Tooth Hedgehogs, and the second bolt of lightning descended.

He raised his Sword Intent longsword, channeled all the lightning power into the blade, and swung it fiercely.

"Crackle!"

Electric arcs flashed, and the sword light tore through the heavens and earth. The Ghost Tooth Hedgehogs on the ground were instantly turned to charcoal, and those that had hidden underground were struck through one by one due to the conductivity of the lightning.

The layers of Ghost Tooth Hedgehogs charred and burst apart like piles of withered grass. Terrified shrieks echoed all around as they scattered and fled, completely losing their initial arrogance.

Suddenly, Lin Fan sensed a peculiar aura surging underground.

He paused slightly, tracking the strong Demonic Qi to lock onto his target: it was the Ghost Tooth Hedgehog Insect Emperor!

This Insect Emperor was distinctly different from the other Ghost Tooth Hedgehogs. Its entire body was covered in a black shell like rock, and its size was hundreds of times larger than the others. A chilling, evil aura emanated from it as it dove underground at an astonishing speed, attempting to escape the range of the Lightning Tribulation.

At this moment, Xiao Du's voice sounded in Lin Fan's mind: "Ghost Tooth Hedgehog Insect Emperor detected. Special capture mission activated: 'Control and enslave the Insect Emperor, making the entire army ant colony your black slaves'."

"Mission reward: 100,000 merit points, special one-time item: ascension ladder."

A flash of surprise crossed Lin Fan's mind. The ascension ladder was an extremely rare secret treasure that would definitely be of great use at the Edge of the Star Sea.

Including previous missions, the System had only ever given a few thousand merit points, with ten thousand being the absolute maximum. This time, it had actually offered a reward of 100,000.

This mission had to be done! He had to give Face to these 100,000 merit points.

Lin Fan dove straight underground, his entire body enveloped in the power of lightning, piercing through layers of rock and soil like a bolt of rapid lightning to pursue the fleeing Insect Emperor.

Sensing the threat behind it, the Insect Emperor anxiously controlled the surrounding Ghost Tooth Hedgehogs, ordering them to turn back quickly in an attempt to block Lin Fan's path in the narrow underground tunnel.

But how could Lin Fan give it that chance? Several lightning swords shot out from his hands, tearing through the pack of Ghost Tooth Hedgehogs blocking his way. Electric arcs splattered, and a burnt stench filled the air.

He then flashed, using Void Evasion to quickly close in on the Insect Emperor.

As Lin Fan pressed on step by step, the Insect Emperor grew increasingly fearful and finally couldn't help but emit a low sound:

"Spare my life! I promise never to launch any attacks against your team again, I only beg you to let me go!"

Lin Fan's lips curled slightly, carrying a playful smile: "Oh? But as long as I control you, I can just as easily ensure you cannot attack me."

With that, a cold light flashed in his eyes. The lightning on the longsword in his hand became increasingly intense as he headed straight for the Insect Emperor.

Seeing that persuasion was ineffective, the Insect Emperor bared its fangs in anger. Its body suddenly swelled, and blood-red patterns began to appear on its thick black shell as it charged directly at Lin Fan.

It let out a piercing screech, instantly unleashing a cloud of poisonous mist that surged toward Lin Fan.

"So you do have some ability."

Lin Fan snorted coldly. The Sword Intent longsword in his hand flashed with lightning, and the electricity spread out like a net, actually splitting and vaporizing the poisonous mist.

At the same time, he stomped his foot, causing the entire underground area to tremble slightly. His longsword followed like a shadow, slashing fiercely toward the Insect Emperor's head!

The Insect Emperor reacted extremely quickly, jerking its body backward. Its sharp, blade-like forelimbs suddenly swung toward Lin Fan, shooting out two silver rays with immense piercing power.

Lin Fan did not dodge or avoid it; his lightning sword collided head-on with the silver rays.

"Bang!"

Sparks flew everywhere, and the lightning and silver light surged underground, causing the rocks to crack and crumble.

Seeing that its attack was ineffective, the Insect Emperor's rage intensified, and a hint of ruthlessness erupted from its scarlet eyes.

It suddenly opened its fanged maw and spat out a stream of blood-red flames from within its body. The scorching fire, mixed with potent toxicity, swept toward Lin Fan.

Lin Fan's eyes turned cold. He quickly swung his lightning sword, and the sword light surged again, colliding with the flames. The power of the lightning instantly tore the fire into countless sparks.

However, taking advantage of this gap, the Insect Emperor suddenly attacked from the side, its sharp forelimbs stabbing at Lin Fan once more.

"Interesting!"

Lin Fan smiled indifferently. He raised his right hand, and lightning condensed into an arc between his palms, which he then slammed toward the Insect Emperor's forelimbs.

Caught off guard, the Insect Emperor was struck by the lightning and let out a shrill shriek. Its forelimbs were scorched black by the electricity, and its movements were no longer as swift as before.

"With only this much strength, you dare to attack me?"

Lin Fan gripped the lightning sword with both hands, and the lightning on the blade flared brilliantly. A heaven-shaking sword light burst forth, slashing straight at the Insect Emperor!

Seeing this, the Insect Emperor was terrified and began to flee frantically into the deeper parts of the underground.

However, Lin Fan's lightning-like Sword Intent remained locked onto it, pressing in step by step, driving the Insect Emperor into a desperate corner.

Just as the Insect Emperor was on the verge of collapse, Xiao Du's prompt sounded again: "Ghost Tooth Hedgehog Insect Emperor detected. Mission 'Control and enslave the Insect Emperor' is in progress. Please use a suitable control skill to complete the capture."

Lin Fan chuckled, suddenly retracting his lightning sword. Void rules quickly condensed in his palm, and he instantly unleashed a Void Restriction, locking the Insect Emperor's entire body.

The Insect Emperor struggled a few times but found itself completely unable to move, a look of terror and despair flashing in its eyes.

"Want to run? Be a good boy and become my black slave!"

As Lin Fan's spiritual power whirled, a layer of pale golden Daoist runes appeared around his body.

The runes rotated slowly like stars, forming countless dense characters of the Heavenly Script.

This was the fourth gate of the Daoist True Inheritance: True Spirit Manipulation.

Lin Fan crookedly wrote two characters: "Black Slave".

Although it was a bit ugly, fortunately, the Heavenly Script recognized the meaning of these two characters. After being enhanced by the Heavenly Script's subtitles, the two characters "Black Slave" transformed into streams of ghostly light and submerged into the depths of the Insect Emperor's Soul.

The Insect Emperor struggled desperately, but as the black light gradually eroded it, its consciousness began to dissipate.

The "Black Slave" brand was imprinted on its Soul core, completely suppressing its will and turning it into an unresisting black slave.

Xiao Du's prompt appeared in Lin Fan's ear at the same time: "Congratulations, Young Master, you have successfully completed the mission."

"Reward: 100,000 merit points."

"Current merit points: 800,000."

"Special item: ascension ladder has been issued."

"Hint: Don't forget to make your black slave work. The Ghost Domain has very rich resources, such as Magic Crystals."

Lin Fan watched the Insect Emperor's body display a posture of complete submission within the Restriction. He curled his lips in satisfaction and slowly withdrew his Divine Ability.

"Black slave, get to work!"