Immortality: Raising an Ant Queen to Cultivate by increasing stat points

Chapter 513: Chapter 505: Giant Elephant Soldiers

“Another seventy li or so ahead and we’ll reach Rat City, which belongs to the Myriad Beast Gang. Let’s find an inn there to stay the night,”

Qin Niu said to his wife.

“There’s actually a place named Rat City? Along this journey, I’ve seen many people riding all kinds of tamed beasts and birds of prey, quite majestic. Why would they choose such a weak name for a city?”

Wang Wanyan had picked up much knowledge traveling with Qin Niu these past days.

They even encountered bandits who tried to rob them on their journey.

Of course, Qin Niu didn’t show any courtesy, directly sending those four bandits to confess their sins in Yama’s Hall.

The title Insect Master had always been synonymous with danger.

Bandits bold enough to rob Insect Masters were indeed few and far between.

“Though the character ‘rat’ might seem a bit undignified and gives the initial impression of cowardice, thievery, and disgust, I think the name Rat City is quite distinctive. For the Myriad Beast Gang to be one of the top sects, it must have exceptional qualities. It no longer needs to rely on a resounding city name to rally people’s spirits,”

Qin Niu believed this proved the strength of the Myriad Beast Gang.

The more humble individuals often possess substantial strength. Those who talk big tend to be all show and no substance.

“Wan Yan, would you like to get out and stretch your legs?”

Xiao Qing had already jumped down from the carriage, as she was still very much a child at heart.

“I’d rather stay inside the carriage for now. Once we get to Rat City, if you have time, you can take me to stroll down the streets and experience the local customs of the Myriad Beast Gang,”

Wang Wanyan responded.

“Alright! Let the horses rest a bit more, then we’ll continue on our way.”

Qin Niu took the gourd from his waist, opened the stopper, and took a hearty drink.

Traveling by carriage was quite comfortable; if they couldn’t find an inn, they could simply sleep inside the carriage. Plus, they could store some food and water on board.

At that moment, a series of rumbling sounds came from afar, and the ground seemed to tremble.

Qin Niu turned to look back at the road and saw a herd of enormous elephants charging towards them. These elephants were much larger than ordinary ones, appearing to be ancient behemoths, standing six to seven meters tall.

An ordinary elephant reaching four meters was already awe-inspiring.

Upon closer inspection, one could see people seated on the backs of those colossal beasts. The people looked insignificant perched atop the enormous elephants, extremely tiny in comparison.

The massive creatures drew closer, and the earth vibrated with their steps as if an earthquake was imminent.

Their might was incredibly impressive.

There were eleven of them in total. The leader was a deep grey elephant that was even larger than the rest. Its tusks were much thicker than a grown man’s thigh and curved slightly upwards.

“They must be the elephant cavalry of the Myriad Beast Gang! If these behemoths charged in battle, who could withstand them!”

Qin Niu had witnessed the Black Tiger Gang’s Black Knight Legion, which could sweep through the entire battlefield during a charge, unstoppable by any. However, compared to this elephant cavalry, the Black Knight Legion was obviously not on the same level.

The elephant cavalry quickly reached where Qin Niu was standing. The man sitting on the lead elephant was an expressionless, indifferent old man in his fifties.

After glancing at Qin Niu and Xiao Qing, the old man spoke coldly, “Recently, there have been monstrous creatures eating people in this area. Judging by your attire, you must be outsiders. It’s best not to sleep outside come nightfall.”

Having said that, the old man patted the elephant’s neck.

Roar!

The elephant let out an excited cry and once again spurred into a gallop.

The ten following elephants called out in response, close behind. Each elephant carried a member of the elephant cavalry on its back, holding a long spear, with bows and arrows strapped behind them.

They were dressed in simple leather vests that protected their vital areas, leaving their necks, arms, and heads exposed.

These elephant soldiers’ defenses appear quite rudimentary, relying, it seemed, on the mighty beasts they rode.

For these great elephants stood six to seven meters tall, like moving hills. Perched on the backs of the elephants, the soldiers hardly needed to worry about enemy strikes.

Conversely, from their high vantage point, they could easily skewer enemies with long spears or shoot them with arrows.

“These elephant soldiers look so ferocious, but I didn’t expect them to be quite friendly!”

Xiao Qing had just been scared enough to hide behind Qin Niu.

It was only when the elephant soldiers had moved on that she dared to speak.

“One mustn’t judge by appearances. They may look fierce but are kind at heart. The Myriad Beast Gang, despite having annexed many sects, treats the common people gently. I’ve never heard of them wantonly killing innocents.”

Qin Niu actually knew little.

The word of mouth about a sect from the common folk is likely the most accurate.

For instance, the Nine Insect Gang was extremely brutal towards the common people, committing ruthless acts, and their local reputation was terrible. When the Black Tiger Gang took over the territories of the Seven-Star Sect, which had been under the Nine Insect Gang’s control, many citizens were happier than if it were the New Year.

Under the Nine Insect Gang’s rule, they could only be exploited and harmed.

The original members of the Nine Insect Gang were first-class citizens, free to take their possessions and claim their women. Those were days devoid of light for them.

Now that they were subjects of the Black Tiger Gang, they no longer had to worry about intruders breaking in at midnight, coercing their wives, stealing their wealth, or even being murdered.

As long as they were willing to work hard, they could engage in trade, work for landlords, or earn money through other jobs.

The houses and lands they purchased would be legally protected.

“Husband, let’s set off quickly! It’s getting late, and if we truly encounter monsters, we’ll be in trouble.”

Wang Wanyan said, a hint of fear in her voice.

“Come on, you’re an Innate Realm Expert yourself. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Qin Niu said with a smile.

“It’s just that after hearing the elephant soldier’s warning, I felt a bit uneasy. I’ve heard that monsters are extremely terrifying, each one vicious… Let’s hurry on our way!”

Fear tinged her voice.

Qin Niu, of course, would not go against the wishes of his cherished wife. He looked up at the sky, where the sun was nearly set. The horizon was strewn with bands of red, as delicate as blood.

The carriage sped along the road, the two Black Mare Horses having rested only briefly and still not having caught their second wind.

They struggled to pull the carriage forward, panting heavily. Their pace was considerably slower than before.

Having dashed about twenty li non-stop, the sun had fully set.

In at most half an hour, it would be completely dark.

“This won’t do. The Black Mare Horses might be famed for covering a thousand li in a day, but after days of continuous labor and having trotted all day today without proper rest, their speed has dropped to half of their usual. I estimate we’d be lucky to reach Rat City by midnight.”

Qin Niu looked at the two horses gasping for air, white foam stringing from the corners of their mouths to the ground.

They could be whipped to pick up their pace if absolutely necessary.

But likely by the time they reached Rat City, the two horses would be spent.

Considering they were still a long way from Elixir City, traveling without these two horses would become extremely difficult.

Even the esteemed Sweaty Precious Horses could not compare with Black Mare Horses.

“What shall we do, then?” n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Anxiously, Wang Wanyan’s furrowed brows formed knots as she sat inside the carriage.