Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 328: Earth Fire Scorches the Heart

With every heave of the ground, those cracks crisscrossing the ruins would gape open like the maws of vicious beasts, spewing out gushes of white vapor reeking of sulfur.

The rubble beneath their feet began to scorch, the soles of their shoes transmitting a sensation akin to stepping on a branding iron.

*Hiss—!*

Three feet to Su Ming's side, a crack abruptly split open. A dark red tongue of flame, like a serpent's forked tongue, shot up a foot high, instantly turning a half-person-high broken wall into a glassy, molten slurry.

Lu Jun was squatting in that very spot, adjusting the formation plate. The sudden blast of heat forced him to scramble backward, rolling and crawling. A section of his hair bun was singed, emitting a charred smell.

"The earth fire vein is about to explode!" Lu Jun's voice turned shrill, the "Ignition Pivot" he had just pieced together almost slipping from his grasp. "We can't stay here! In half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, this entire area will become a lava pool!"

In the surrounding darkness, that spine-chilling *rustling* sound grew denser.

Countless pairs of crimson compound eyes lit up in the shadows, like drifting will-o'-the-wisps, rapidly tightening the encirclement.

Su Ming's fingers swept rapidly over the scorching formation plate.

Su Ming's voice was not loud, yet it cut clearly through the roaring din, reaching everyone's ears. "That's the formation core of the Frontier Defense Great Array, suppressed by a high-grade Spirit Gathering Array! The earth veins there are the most stable!""The Spiritual Hub Hall?" Lu Jun was momentarily stunned. "But that's the main assault direction of the tide of insects. With our few people..."

"Precisely because it's the main assault direction, the defensive firepower there is the fiercest. That's where the gaps in the insect swarm will be."

Su Ming offered no further explanation. He turned to look at the group of battered veterans. "Lu Jun, take those who know how to read formation plates in the center. Brother Zhao, you and your men protect the flanks."

"What about the rear?" Zhao Tiji instinctively asked.

The insect swarm was pressing from the south. Once the group started moving, their backs would be the biggest opening.

Just as Su Ming was about to speak, the veteran who had lost a leg and had been leaning against a broken wall suddenly propped himself up and stood.

His name was Old Zhou, the most senior scout of Bing-7 Battalion.

"Brother Su, you take these youngsters and those who understand formations and go first."

Old Zhou fished out a pouch of cheap tobacco from his chest, didn't bother lighting it, and stuffed it directly into his mouth, chewing vigorously. His face revealed a mouthful of yellowed, smoke-stained broken teeth. "Us rough fellows, our legs aren't nimble, can't keep up with the main group. Not good for much else, but relying on this earth fire trap, holding these beasts back for half a quarter-hour is something we can manage."

Behind him, seven or eight other heavily wounded or spiritually exhausted old soldiers silently stepped forward.

They didn't utter any heroic words, just deftly untied the few remaining explosive flame talismans from their waists, or rewrapped broken blades tightly around their hands.

Su Ming looked at Old Zhou, his lips moving slightly.

saliva, his murky old eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. "You all survive, remember to set up a monument for us. Just write 'Bing-7 Battalion Hard Bones.'

but Su Ming grabbed his

"Go!"

cold as ice, only the knuckles of his sword-gripping hand turning white. "Don't let

*Boom—*

beneath their feet shook violently again. The "Ignition Pivot" serving as

"Activate the formation!"

Zhou and the others lunged toward that earth fire node on the verge of

going to suppress it,

force, plunging headlong into the darkness and firelight to the north without

them, an earth-shattering

the sound of the earth fire trap being completely detonated, accompanied by the sharp, shrill shrieks of countless insects being

retreat was

was precisely this towering wall of fire that tore a gaping hole through

me! Falling behind means

was no longer just used for sword techniques; every swing now

state" vision was fully

this chaotic battlefield transformed into a web woven from threads of spiritual

the spiritual energy was thin, that was the weak point of the insect swarm. Where the earth and rocks were loose, that was where they could borrow force

Hug that collapsed

Three zhang at the Qian position, throw two thunderfire

a storm, perilously dodging one deadly chaotic

they drew closer to the Spiritual Hub Hall, Su Ming's heart

"Disciple, something's wrong."

voice carried a touch of gravity. "These

insect swarm that had been surging forward en masse suddenly split

Insects," each the size of a millstone, with carapaces so thick even magical implements struggled to scratch them, pushed to the front, forming a

"Corrosion Worker Insects" with swollen abdomens

*Splat! Splat! Splat!*

sky full of acid rained down like a green

billowing large clouds of

the shadows of the ruins on both sides, an extremely swift and concealed presence was maneuvering toward the rear of the

were the "Shadow Blade Insects"

spiritual energy shield he had just condensed was splashed by a drop of acid, instantly

with brains are indeed

"Since they understand military tactics, let's give them a taste of

formation flags from his storage pouch and, without even looking, flung them

formations, follow my command! Infuse spiritual energy at the