"Use fire! These Bullet Bees are deadly, but their wings are still their weak point. Burn their wings and they can't fly. No matter how fast they are, they'll drop to the ground," Wu Yong said quickly.
"Blazing Talismans—ready! Fire!!"
Yang Yanping issued the command simultaneously.
According to prior intelligence, Bullet Bees were incredibly fast—naturally swift and capable of sudden bursts of speed that multiplied their velocity tenfold. As fast as lightning, their speed translated directly into attack and destructive power. Though their bodies were small, they were hard as steel, and their wings, while light, were extremely flammable. Once ignited, they couldn't fly, and no matter how tough they were, they would inevitably fall. But if they managed to pierce a body's defenses, their impact was catastrophic—hitting a vital point meant instant death.
For this campaign, the army had already been fully outfitted with top-tier equipment and supplies.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
A flurry of Blazing Talismans shot out from the soldiers' hands. They lit up the air with scarlet divine light before transforming into fierce flames that converged into a vast sea of fire, sweeping across the swarm like a tidal wave.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Bullet Bees charged into the flames with reckless abandon. Their wings ignited instantly, wrapping them in fire. Yet, their momentum was so strong that even after losing their wings, they kept hurtling forward faster than bullets.
They struck with deadly force—like a rain of arrows—but just before impact, a divine glow flickered across the surface of the soldiers' Vermilion Bird Battle Armor. A flaming shield emerged, formed entirely of fire yet condensed into a tangible, solid surface. Despite their armor-piercing capabilities, the bees' power was significantly diminished after multiple impacts. By the time they reached the armor, their force had weakened too much to penetrate it and were instead deflected or bounced away.
The Vermilion Bird Battle Armor covered the wearer from head to toe. The helmet even had a faceplate shaped like a Vermilion Bird, leaving no gaps or weaknesses. It could withstand attacks from any angle.
A massive number of Bullet Bees fell to the ground. Some struggled violently, still alive. Despite the damage, if given enough time, they could regrow their wings. Their vitality was astonishing.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Dense clusters of Bullet Bees struck the soldiers like rain. In mere moments, the ground was littered with their twitching bodies—a shocking sight. Some were dead; others clung to life.
Yet despite the storm-like onslaught, not a single soldier of the Vermilion Bird Corps was harmed. Even when the fire shields were pierced, they self-repaired instantly, drawing on the wearers' true essence. So long as the wearer had energy, the shield could remain indefinitely.
This was the strength of the Vermilion Bird Battle Armor—part divine tool, part essence construct. By the end, all the Bullet Bees had perished, and not a single casualty was reported.
It was a sight that stunned the battlefield.
Inside Gold-Silver City, countless civilians looked on in awe.
"Incredible... I've heard of Bullet Bees—so fast you don't even notice getting hit until you're bleeding out. Even powerful beasts avoid them. Now an entire swarm was stopped without any losses? Is this a dream?"
"Amazing! The Vermilion Bird Corps is unstoppable. If even Bullet Bees can't hurt them, our Great Yi Dynasty is destined to thrive. We'll expand our territory and nothing will stop us!"
"They didn't panic at all in that situation—calm and composed. A true elite force. Only those forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood can achieve this."
To emerge from such a deadly ambush without a single casualty proved their elite status beyond doubt.
"Rest here. Change clothes. Continue forward."
Yang Ye nodded in approval. The Vermilion Bird Corps had proven capable of handling sudden crises with ease—true strength.
The soldiers quickly changed out of their tainted garments. Though unafraid, the scent of honey rain would attract more bees, and that was best avoided. In no time, they were ready and continued their advance.
The Celestial City pressed forward without pause.
…
This clash was immediately reported to Fan Wencheng, who sat grim-faced in his tent among other alien race powerhouses.
"The Vermilion Bird Corps' strength is beyond our expectations. That honey rain should've summoned enough Bullet Bees to pierce even Sea of Divine Realm cultivators—let alone flesh refiners. And yet, they couldn't even scratch those soldiers."
Fan Wencheng frowned. This had only been a test, but it revealed far more than expected. It confirmed that a head-on clash would be unwise.
"Humans truly are a race of infinite potential. Just three or four years, and they already possess such terrifying strength."
"So what now? The honey rain failed. We wasted spirit honey—should've laced it with poison!"
"Poison wouldn't help. If you alter the honey, a cultivator's instincts would detect danger. They'd never eat it. Only unaltered honey could lower their guard. We gambled—and lost."
The aliens exchanged words grimly.
"No matter. If fire and honey failed... then we'll use poison. Water and fire are merciless, but poison is worse—it brings annihilation and death. Let's see how humans handle toxins!"
Fan Wencheng's smile turned cold and vicious.
"Agreed! Let's see how long they can last."
The two-headed ogre roared with laughter.
Preparations began at once.
…
Meanwhile, Gold-Silver City continued its forward march. Not long after they left the battlefield, a lone figure stepped onto the scene.
"Bullet Bees? Only someone as scheming as Fan Wencheng would think of this. Most alien races fight head-on. Using honey to seed clouds and summon rain that lures Bullet Bees? That's cunning. If an average army had been caught unaware, it would've been a massacre."
Naturally, the man was Yi Tianxing.
Thanks to the space gate, he could come and go as he pleased. Though he hadn't tried to catch up, he still arrived shortly after the army.
He gazed at the fallen Bullet Bees. Many still twitched—alive and tenacious.
"Bullet Bees... a treasure, really. The spirit honey they produce is priceless. And my Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower still has unused space. Introducing a bee colony could add life and even produce endless spirit honey over time."
With a thought, the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower appeared, releasing a divine light that swept across the battlefield.
Dead bees were absorbed into the chaos space, their bodies refined into chaotic energy, leaving only the stingers behind.
Those still alive—especially the wingless but struggling ones—were transferred into a special tower floor rich in flora and life. It was the perfect environment for a bee colony. Soon, their wings would regrow, new queens would emerge, and they would thrive.