For three days, Eddie and his team engaged in relentless training without returning to camp.
Eddie's goal wasn't to hunt Red Fire Ant eggs like the mercenaries but to cultivate teamwork and battle skills.
He focused on secretly protecting his group and refining his Yin-Yang Twin Fish Slash technique, striving for a breakthrough.
Sophia initially teamed up with Yehken, Haye Yew, and the Ly brothers, but Eddie noticed her Tree Guardian's overwhelming strength.
On the second day, he took her to a separate area for solo training, leaving the others in pairs.
Yehken's progress was significant, but his Gold Level 1 King Kong Ape and Strongman Rhino were still juvenile and hadn't reached their peak strength.
Haye Yew, shedding his usual laziness, focused on training his Ironskin Rhino under Eddie's rigorous plan.
Eddie knew the bulky young man had potential but was held back by laziness and timidity. If Haye Yew committed to rigorous training, he could achieve much.
The quiet Ly brothers improved under Eddie's casual guidance, showing diligence can compensate for lack of innate talent.
However, their Wind Wolves were killed by a Red Fire Ant due to a control error, leaving them devastated.
Yehken's group had taken down seven Red Fire Ants, including a massive eight-meter Red Fire Giant Soldier Ant.
Sophia, under Eddie's guidance, had killed six ants with ease, demonstrating growing mastery over her Tree Guardian.
Suddenly, a distress signal echoed through the tunnels, seeking assistance against an ant swarm that had discovered mercenaries trying to steal Golden Ant Eggs. The call for help was transmitted via a low-grade scroll commonly used by mercenaries, effective within five kilometers and prone to attracting more enemies.
"Let's go, Ice," Eddie said urgently upon hearing the news of the ant swarm.
An outbreak of this magnitude was dangerous, with a single Red Fire Ant nest harboring tens of thousands.
The marked nests on the map numbered nearly a hundred, with uncharted ones likely exceeding that.
The ant tunnel was teeming with countless Red Fire Ants, often driven into frenzy by intruders killing their new queen or smashing numerous eggs.
Such incidents triggered chaos among all ants, causing every nest to unleash its inhabitants in a tidal wave of fury, indiscriminately slaughtering invaders.
As all Red Fire Ants originated from a primal queen, continuously dividing and expanding over millions of years, they shared a genetic bond, allowing them to coexist peacefully.
Yet, when facing enemies, they united regardless of their group.
Confronted by a sea of ants in the treacherous tunnels, not even a Level 6 Sect Master could guarantee escape.
"Hurry up, Haye Yew!" Yehken and the others had already run ahead, knowing the severity of an ant tide. Despite the temptation of the Golden Ant Eggs, survival was the paramount choice.
Eddie and his team had only ventured a short distance into the tunnel and quickly made their way out.
However, as they emerged, numerous mercenaries armed with weapons and accompanied by their battle beasts surged into the tunnel.
The scene perfectly illustrated the saying, "Men die for wealth, birds die for food." Many mercenaries stayed outside, reluctant to enter the tunnel but keenly interested in the unfolding events.
"Sister, why don't you go in and check it out? We'll stay outside. Don't worry, we'll be fine!" Sophia encouraged Eddie to act freely without worrying about them.
She had grown to trust his strength and judgment, knowing he wouldn't act recklessly.
Sophia believed with his formidable battle skills and the support of the Blood Queen and the Shadow Bull, he could navigate the tunnels safely.
"We'll be okay!" Yehken nodded at Eddie, encouraging him to seize this opportunity for advancement. "If the ant tide emerges, we'll retreat to the settlement and wait for you," Haye Yew added, speaking earnestly for the first time.
"I'll be back soon," Eddie reassured them, leaving his powerful Grey Great Wolf behind for Sophia's protection, knowing its effectiveness would be limited in the face of an ant tide.
The mercenaries often returned from deeper layers of the tunnel with various ores, and Eddie discovered increasingly peculiar plants and valuable medicinal mushrooms. He didn't expect to find Golden Ant Eggs, as any mercenary who did would likely teleport away immediately. Their claims were likely a ruse to draw more rescuers.
Eddie's primary goal was to explore deeper layers, seeking rare herbs for a concoction taught by Granny Wendy.
The "Green Spirit Pill" he planned to craft required 72 ingredients, including five types of mushrooms, of which he had found only three so far.
With his ability to conceal his presence using the Heart of Nature, Eddie was virtually invisible to the Red Fire Ants, which primarily detected enemies by scent.
Unless he physically touched an ant, his chances of being noticed, even at close range, were slim.
After following a group of mercenaries through the winding ant tunnels for about fifteen minutes, Eddie suddenly emerged into a vast cavern, ten times larger than a soccer field.
The mercenaries huddled at the entrance, daunted by the sight before them: the ground and ceiling teemed with Red Fire Ants, easily numbering in the tens of thousands.
Even Eddie, a seasoned warrior, felt a chill run down his spine at the sight.
These Red Fire Ants were formidable creatures, with the weakest being Level 3 organisms.
The larger soldier ants were Level 4, and their protective guards, capable of spewing long columns of fire, were Level 5.
Although not elite creatures, their sheer numbers posed an overwhelming threat. A direct conflict, even with thousands of troops, would likely result in a catastrophic defeat.
A daring mercenary captain, aiming for more than mere gold, sprayed himself with ant water, which fooled the ants into thinking he was one of their own.
Others came up with a different strategy, using flying battle beasts for transportation.
"Let the cowards step aside and watch me count my money!" a particularly bold mercenary shouted as he sprayed himself with insect repellent and charged into the swarm.
As Eddie silently followed these desperate souls, he encountered an even larger nest swarming with ants.
Gigantic guard ants danced in the sky with their fiery breaths, creating a chaotic and dangerous spectacle.
Nearly a hundred mercenaries stood trembling on a small ledge, protected temporarily by the repellent they had sprayed and the torches they held.
But their time was running short. As the repellent's smell faded, they would be overwhelmed by the relentless ants.
"Brothers, for the sake of riches, let's risk our lives!" Most of the mercenaries were driven not by the promise of gold but by the lure of Golden Ant Eggs.
Eddie, using his natural stealth and experience, navigated through this perilous environment, keeping a watchful eye on the desperate mercenaries and the increasingly agitated ant colony.
Eddie witnessed several mercenary leaders conspiring to throw insect attractants towards the platform, inciting the Red Fire Ant swarm into a frenzy.
The mercenaries on the platform cursed loudly as they were engulfed by the ants.
Among them, Eddie noticed a few with large backpacks, their expressions tense and complex.
He deduced that these men had discovered something more valuable than the Golden Ant Eggs, using the eggs as a diversion to escape with their prize.
Curious about what could be more valuable than the Golden Ant Eggs, Eddie considered proposing a trade, knowing he had plenty of teleportation scrolls in his backpack.
Unlike the average warrior, he moved through the ant swarm undetected, as if invisible, not even disturbing the ants he stepped on.
Eddie approached the platform and stood atop a huge ant guard, his figure rising and falling with the creature's movement.
With a radiant smile, he called out to the mercenaries, offering to make a deal, wondering what they had to trade.
The platform's leader responded, eager to buy teleportation scrolls from Eddie at any price.
Eddie knew he needed to demonstrate his strength to gain their respect and compliance.
Without replying, he drew out his Ashen Demon Blade, infusing it with intense qi, causing purple flames to erupt like a volcanic explosion.
Executing the perfected Double Fish Slash he had refined over the past three days, the blade's purple fiery arc cut through the surrounding space, silently bisecting any Red Fire Ants within its range.
Even the fire-immune ants were turned into blackened corpses by the intense flames. In an instant, Eddie created a vacuum zone around himself, showcasing the sheer power of his strike.
The sight of Eddie's display left all the mercenaries, including the leader, with trembling legs and nervous gulps.
The awe-inspiring might of his single slash had thoroughly intimidated them.
The terrifying display of power by the mysterious masked thief, without even summoning a battle beast, left everyone in awe.
What level of power did this figure possess?
The leader on the platform, wiping away cold sweat, showed respect, "We salute you, honored warrior. We are grateful for your assistance. If you can lead us out of this ant nest, we are willing to offer a Golden Ant Egg as a reward!"
The mercenaries on the platform nodded in agreement, recognizing the value of a true powerhouse's help. Their only concern was what this formidable stranger might ask in return.
"No, I'm not interested in your Golden Ant Eggs," Eddie replied indifferently. He had no interest in Red Fire Ants, even the golden variety. Ants rely on numbers to win battles; individually, they aren't exceptionally strong.
The leader's expression changed upon hearing this, exchanging glances with his companions.
He then shouted, "Honored warrior, what do you require? The most precious thing we have is the Golden Ant Eggs, but there are only three left. We've promised to sell one to the Alliance Beast Store, leaving us with just two. Sharing them with you is the limit of what we can offer in exchange for our blood-earned gains!"
Eddie smiled faintly, "I want something more valuable than the Golden Ant Eggs from you..."
The leader trembled, disbelief in his eyes, then quickly denied, "There's nothing like that with us. Is there anything in this ant nest more precious than Golden Ant Eggs? That's impossible!"
"Is it?" Eddie smiled, then made an offer to the crowd on the platform, "Whoever tells me what that treasure is first, I'll give them a teleportation scroll!"
Everyone exchanged glances, torn between speaking up and being labeled a traitor.
Eddie then made a move that shattered their resolve. He pulled out a teleportation scroll from his backpack. To speak and live or stay silent and face danger—the choice was now a mere word away.
"Hardshell Fire Dragon Fruit!"
As soon as Eddie pulled out the teleportation scroll, a skinny mercenary spoke up. He was the quickest to reveal the secret and leaped down from the platform, fearing retribution for betraying his companions.
Agilely bouncing off the backs of Red Fire Ants, he quickly reached Eddie, desperately extending his hand, "We found the legendary Hardshell Fire Dragon Fruit. It's a key ingredient for the 'Warrior's Elixir'... Please, give me a teleportation scroll. I can't die; my family needs me alive. For the sake of my elderly parents and my three-month-old daughter, I beg you, honorable warrior, please honor your promise. You are a man of your word, please have mercy on me…"
"Good, your initiative and honesty have earned you the right to live," Eddie acknowledged the man's actions, handing him a teleportation scroll.
The mercenary gratefully accepted it, bowed deeply to Eddie, and quickly activated the scroll, vanishing into the light.
The leader on the platform could not stop him, and the remaining mercenaries were filled with regret. The chance for survival had slipped away.
They knew not everyone would make it out alive; inevitably, some would be sacrificed for others to escape.
Despite this, no one wanted to be that unfortunate sacrifice. Even with slim hopes, everyone yearned to survive.
Eddie then took out a handful of teleportation scrolls, gesturing towards the platform leader, "Now, make your choice.
First, die here with all your comrades, and after your deaths, I'll collect what I need. Second, accept the trade and leave with selected companions.
The ants will disperse once you leave with the valuable items, and the mercenaries here for rescue or plunder will scatter, increasing the chances of survival for those left. Third, defeat me, and these scrolls are yours."
Everyone watched the leader, hoping he would make a decision. Such a simple choice yet one of the most difficult in life...