Ye Ningze arranged to meet Feng Lang in a private room at an eatery, where they ate and chatted.
"Feng Lang, I've been cultivating at home these past few days. I wonder what the situation is like in Sunset Forest?" Ye Ningze asked.
Upon hearing this, Feng Lang put down his chopsticks and sighed.
"Alas, the situation is quite dire. My cultivation is low, so I don't know the specifics," Feng Lang said.
Feng Lang continued, "I've only heard that the emergence of the high-level ferocious beast, the Divine Power Ant, has consecutively killed over a hundred elite martial artists, including six Grandmasters!"
"So many Grandmasters have fallen?" Ye Ningze was somewhat astonished.
It was known that in mid-to-small-sized bases like Qingcheng Base, even prominent families had at most a few Grandmaster martial artists.
Now, so many Grandmasters had fallen in one go.
"This is truly a heavy loss!" Ye Ningze couldn't help but lament.
Feng Lang nodded and said, "Who can say otherwise? These six Grandmaster martial artists all perished at the same time."
"Fortunately, when the Divine Power Ant rampaged through Sunset Forest later, no more Grandmasters fell."
Ye Ningze's eyes narrowed slightly, and he thought to himself, "These Grandmaster martial artists should be that group led by Old Hong."
When the high-level ferocious beast, the Divine Power Ant, first appeared, some Grandmasters among Old Hong's group of martial artists likely didn't manage to escape in time.
Thus, they were killed by the frenzied Divine Power Ant.
"With such a ferocious beast in Sunset Forest, the trade route is probably impossible to open," Ye Ningze casually asked.
"You're mistaken, Brother Ye." Hearing Ye Ningze's words, Feng Lang shook his head and said, "The trade route connecting Qingcheng Base to the outer medium-sized bases is almost open."
"Aren't there high-level ferocious beasts appearing?" Ye Ningze asked. "What's going on?"
Ye Ningze knew clearly that without killing the high-level ferocious beast, the Divine Power Ant, the trade route absolutely could not be established.
Elite martial artists and above might be able to manage with extra caution, but if a martial artist was alone and targeted by a high-level ferocious beast, it would still be quite troublesome.
Seeing Ye Ningze's confusion, Feng Lang explained, "Due to the fall of several Grandmaster martial artists, the medium-sized base, in its rage, directly dispatched an extraordinary martial artist!"
At this point, Feng Lang seemed somewhat excited, his breathing quickening.
"To be honest, Brother Ye, this is the first time I've heard of an extraordinary martial artist taking action! I only knew of Grandmasters before, and I haven't heard any deeds of extraordinary martial artists."
"An extraordinary martial artist took action?" Ye Ningze was slightly taken aback, then asked, "Since an extraordinary martial artist took action, the high-level ferocious beast, the Divine Power Ant, should have been killed."
Extraordinary martial artists possessed a physical strength of a million jin, which was comparable to the Divine Power Ant with its high-level strength talent.
The most crucial point was that the speed, reaction time, and other aspects of an extraordinary martial artist were definitely not comparable to a high-level ferocious beast.
As long as this extraordinary martial artist wasn't foolish enough to compete with the Divine Power Ant in terms of strength, killing a high-level ferocious beast should not be a problem.
Indeed, as soon as Ye Ningze finished speaking, Feng Lang confirmed with certainty.
"Yes, it should have been killed."
"There haven't been any reports of the Divine Power Ant harming people recently. The Sun and Li families of the base have already begun recalling the clearing teams to resume their missions."
Feng Lang, having received Ye Ningze's help earlier, had already completed his mission ahead of time.
At this point, he naturally didn't need to return to Sunset Forest.
Within a few days of Ye Ningze returning from the eatery, he heard news that the trade route had been opened.
The ferocious beasts connecting Qingcheng Base to the outer medium-sized bases had been largely cleared.
However, the absence of ferocious beasts now didn't mean they wouldn't migrate again.
But the martial artists of Qingcheng Base were still very happy. Only Ye Ningze felt something was amiss.
For a small base like Qingcheng Base to engage in trade with a medium-sized base was indeed a good thing for Qingcheng Base.
But why would a medium-sized base go to such great lengths, even dispatching an extraordinary martial artist?
What benefits could a medium-sized base gain from trading with Qingcheng Base?
Ye Ningze couldn't figure out these questions for the time being.
In the following period, Ye Ningze continued to cultivate at home.
During this time, Feng Lang specifically brought some beast hides and meat, which were the spoils from when Ye Ningze helped Feng Lang's team last time.
Ye Ningze, who initially looked down on these items, eventually accepted them.
Although they weren't of much use to him, he still had his sister, Ye Yuhan.
His sister was also about to awaken her talent and officially become a martial artist, so these items would be perfect for her then.
After sending Feng Lang off, Ye Ningze continued his secluded cultivation.
If it weren't for an unexpected visitor during this period, Ye Ningze might not have planned to leave home anytime soon.
On this day.
A strange middle-aged man came to Ye Ningze's door.
"Lord Ye Ningze, I am Steward Li of the Li family, Li Da," Li Da said respectfully to Ye Ningze.
"The Li family of Qingcheng Base?"
"Precisely," Li Da replied with a smile. "I am here on behalf of the Li family head to specifically visit Lord Ye."
Hearing this, Ye Ningze's mouth twitched slightly.
If he remembered correctly, Li Daocheng and his fellow disciples, whom he had killed previously, were from the Li family of Qingcheng.
Now, the Li family head had specifically sent a steward over. Could it be that they knew something?
But upon further thought, Ye Ningze still felt it was unlikely.
If the Li family truly knew about these matters and came seeking revenge, they would certainly not send just an elite martial artist like Li Da alone.
"What is it?" Ye Ningze, not understanding the situation, frowned and asked.
"Our Li family wishes to invite Lord Ye to be our guest at the Li family residence," Li Da said with a slight smile.
Hearing this, Ye Ningze's exterior remained calm, but his heart was already laughing wildly.
The Li family actually invited him to be a guest. If the Li family head knew that Li Daocheng and his fellow disciples had died at his hands, he would likely be furious!
"I'm busy, please leave." Ye Ningze refused outright.
Li Da, who had been respectful until now, changed his expression. "Lord Ye, our Li family is a prominent family in Qingcheng Base."
"Our family has many elite martial artists, and even Grandmasters. Befriending our Li family will bring you nothing but benefits. If not..."
Li Da's words were left unsaid, but his arrogant expression said it all.
Ye Ningze's nostrils flared, and anger surged within him.
He really wanted to ask Li Da who gave him the confidence to dare threaten a Grandmaster martial artist?
He was too audacious!
"Hmph, you dare threaten me?" Ye Ningze snorted coldly.
Traces of sword intent erupted, crushing down towards Li Da.
Instantly, Li Da felt immense pressure, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"What do you want to do? Don't act rashly!" Seeing Ye Ningze's oppressive aura, Li Da panicked at this moment.