Chapter 497: Metalchomp Ants (1/2)

“Sounds about right.” Chen Feng nodded. Although no one had begun mining work on this mine before, Chen Feng did possess a certain amount of understanding towards it. For example, the ores that he had acquired in the past also contained some ordinary rocky materials and impurities, let alone these iron ores. The same held true for spirit stone mines.

After that, Chen Feng took a few more steps forward. Then, he picked up another fist-sized stone. As expected, this stone was considerably heavier compared to the previous stone. Sensing that, Chen Feng knew that the Mystic Iron content within this stone was much higher than the previous one.

This is an Iron Essence Grass, a type of medicinal herb that grows near mines. It is usable in the forging of magic treasures. Chen Feng stretched his hand to pull out a medicinal herb that had a completely metallic look. It looked as though it was made using metal. It felt heavy and Chen Feng was able to sense a thick iron essence within the Iron Essence Grass.

Looks like cultivators who practice metal-type magic techniques can also use this medicinal herb for their cultivation practice. Chen Feng’s palm exerted a suction force and the iron essence within the Iron Essence Grass was quickly absorbed away, causing the Iron Essence Grass to wither.

Are there only Iron Essence Grasses? As Chen Feng continued advancing, one Iron Essence Grass after another flew up from the ground and into Chen Feng’s hand. However, there was something that surprised and puzzled Chen Feng. While the number of medicinal herbs on the mountain was quite high, there was only one type of medicinal herbs: Iron Essence Grass.

“What is so surprising about that? This is a Mystic Iron mine. What else could grow here if not Iron Essence Grass? And why are you so slow? Just watch me?” Tower finally grew impatient. A massive vortex suddenly appeared before Chen Feng, sending a formidable suction force outward. Everywhere the force went, Iron Essence Grasses and Mystic Iron ores would be pulled over and sucked into the vortex. The herbal field within the Longevity Tower expanded. At the same time, Mystic Iron ores kept piling up within the tower to form a small mountain.

Bang!

Chen Feng waved his hand and a large astral sword flashed forward. A gully that was over 20 zhang long and several zhang deep appeared on the hard mountain. Shattered rocks and iron bits flew about. The gully exposed a Mystic Iron vein that was even harder than the mountain.

It truly is very hard. That attack earlier could have cleaved a normal earthen mountain, but it could only do this much against it. Whatever, I’ll let Tower handle this. Seeing the effect of his actions, Chen Feng decided not to do anything. His actions would be a clear waste of effort.

This place has a Mystic Iron mine. Given how good it is, this place will definitely be playing host to some yao beasts, no? Chen Feng rushed all the way up to the mountaintop in one breath. Then, he checked his surroundings.

Still, I managed to acquire so many Mystic Iron ores this time around. This means I now have the materials I need to craft some metal puppets. Yes. If I can craft some Mystic Iron puppets, I can use them as bodyguards in the future. They can even prove useful during critical situations. Chen Feng suddenly thought.

The Puppet Crafting Technique was not a particularly high-grade technique and the puppets crafted could only utilize physical attacks. However, Chen Feng knew that, with proper utilization, they could be used to great effect. For example, if a Mystic Iron puppet could approach a cultivator who had bad melee abilities, the puppet would likely be capable of killing the cultivator with just one punch.

“I will devour 90 % of the Mystic Iron here. I will leave 10 % for you,” Tower said.

“No problem!” Chen Feng replied smilingly.

Suddenly, Chen Feng’s body flashed to disappear before re-appearing somewhere over 10 metres away. There on the very spot that Chen Feng had occupied just moments ago was an ant. Black in colour, the ant was bigger than a human palm. A piece of hard ore that was on the ground there had broken into two neatly split pieces.

“Metalchomp Ant!”

Chen Feng was surprised. He had actually seen this creature back when he was in Demon Soul Valley. However, while they did possess roughly the same appearance, this ant had a somewhat different colour.

Chen Feng then recollected himself. These creatures devour metals. Since there was a Mystic Iron mine here, it was only normal for these Metalchomp Ants to appear here. Truth be told, this creature before him could not be considered a yao beast. Its individual strength was not particularly strong. However, the appearance of an entire swarm of these creatures would be a disaster. At any rate, they were social creatures.

Sou!

Failing to strike Chen Feng with its earlier attack, the Metalchomp Ant leapt, transforming into a black beam of light to shoot towards Chen Feng’s neck. Its sharp pincer shone with black light as it attempted to tear Chen Feng’s neck.

With a swing of his hand, Chen Feng grabbed the Metalchomp Ant. “A little something like you want to attack me?”

Caught by Chen Feng’s hand, the Metalchomp Ant ferociously bit Chen Feng’s finger. Seeing that, Chen Feng did not try to avoid getting bitten. Instead, he deliberately allowed the Metalchomp Ant to do so.

A drop of blood flowed down from Chen Feng’s finger, shocking Chen Feng. Not only was his fleshly body strong, he was also wearing the grade 9 Prized-tier body armour. Generally speaking, even your average Sky Human stage cultivator would be incapable of breaking Chen Feng’s defensive power. And yet, this Metalchomp Ant could actually create a wound on his finger with its bite. Seeing that shocked Chen Feng. This Metalchomp Ant was much stronger compared to the ones he had encountered back in Demon Soul Valley.

Chen Feng tightened his grip only to find that the Metalchomp Ant was seemingly made from Mystic Iron, incomparably hard. In the end, however, Chen Feng had still crushed it with his grip, effectively killing it.

“This is practically a clump of metal.” Seeing the deformed Metalchomp Ant in his hand, Chen Feng felt that it was no different from a piece of metal. Naturally, it was much tougher than ordinary steel.

“Metalchomp Ants feed on metals. The toughness of their bodies has long since exceeded that of ordinary metals. Although these Mystic Iron ores here are hard, they might not be as hard as this Metalchomp Ant’s body,” Tower said.