Chapter 653 - 292: If Only Advisor Chen Were Here

During the long winter, the piercing cold winds cut through Qinling mountains from all directions, like gusts of Cold-Biting Ox’s Cold Breath, freezing the once lush world.

The cold wind howled, the temperature dropped, and some Pet Beasts curled up in caves, burrows, or tree hollows day and night, lowering their metabolism to survive the long winter.

The Attendant Bees were among these creatures.

The cold wind swept away the vitality of summer, leaving the Attendant Bees with no choice but to stay in the hive and gather warmth among themselves to endure the long winter.

During this period, they usually wouldn’t leave the hive, let alone collect nectar to produce honey.

It wasn’t until the world came back to life during spring, when flowers bloomed, that the Attendant Bees would leave the hive, flying into the flower-filled springtime.

But two days ago, a sudden event severely disrupted the Attendant Bees’ winter hibernation plan.

"Sizzle."

The cold sunlight fell into the valley, illuminating the thick layer of snow and the barren trees like those of a middle-aged programmer, as one Attendant Bee after another flapped their four thin white wings, their yellow and black bodies dancing around the valley’s perimeter.

Though it was a cold day, the temperature was quite unfriendly to the Attendant Bees. Still, to prepare for the possible attacks from the Black-striped Spiders, the Sweet Bee Queen issued an order yesterday — the patrol team must remain on alert around the clock.

As soon as the presence of the Black-striped Spiders was detected, all Attendant Bees should rally for a counterattack to defend their home.

"Sizzle..."

An elite Attendant Bee was idly surveying the surroundings, its scarlet eyes reflecting a sense of indifference; it did not believe that those Black-striped Spiders had the nerve to continue the attack.

Indeed, those creatures they had once driven away had made some progress, but they were still far from being able to defeat them.

A faint buzzing of wings continuously resonated as the elite Attendant Bee sometimes basked in the sun, greedily absorbing the remaining winter warmth, sometimes flying along the patrol route to drive away the passing wild Pet Beasts.

It intended to act as it usually did, but each time it was about to strike, it would recall a long night.

Back then, it had just been born and witnessed firsthand a human with vicious Pet Beasts invade their territory. After an intense battle, they were eventually driven out of the valley.

Since that night, the Attendant Bees noticeably restrained their behavior, no longer attacking passing Beastmasters or innocent wild Pet Beasts indiscriminately.

They quietly resided in the current valley, focusing on producing honey, as the external disturbances seemed to fade away like the fleeting Sweet Fragrance of baby Attendant Bees.

But the revenge action of the Black-striped Spiders completely shattered this peace.

"Sizzle..."

The scarlet eyes flickered with a glint, and the elite Attendant Bee shook its head, putting the disturbing thoughts behind, focusing on enjoying the rare, peaceful morning.

But a white spider silk suddenly pierced through the air, like a cold and sharp glint hidden within the sunlight, silent yet filled with lethal intent.

Having let down its guard, the elite Attendant Bee was destined to be unable to evade this sudden attack.

When it sensed the deadly intent shooting from the sunlight, a strong crisis surged within it, causing its four white thin wings to flutter vigorously, attempting to ascend.

But it was too late.

The speed of the white spider silk was incredible, almost instantaneously spanning tens of meters to approach the elite Attendant Bee, and in the next moment, accurately striking its abdomen.

The spider silk adhered to the elite Attendant Bee, and a powerful force transmitted through the white spider silk fiercely pulled the elite Attendant Bee down!

Sizzle snap!

In that instant,

white spider silks shot out from all directions, their origins different, their speeds different, their forces different, yet at that moment, they formed a tight-knit whole, ensnaring the unprepared Attendant Bees completely.

"Sizzle!"

"Sizzle!"

Screams of terror rang out one after another, as the Attendant Bees vigorously vibrated their wings, attempting to shake off the white spider silk with their tremendous wing flapping frequency.

But all to no avail.

The hardness of the spider silk spun by the Black-striped Spiders surpassed that of most artificial materials, with circles of white spider silk wrapping around the Attendant Bees tightly like fine threads, forming white cocoon-like shapes.

The wings ceased their flapping, and their bodies gradually became still. The patrol team, attacked by the Black-striped Spiders, lacked even the opportunity for an effective counterattack and lost its combat capability in an instant.

When the white cocoon-like forms collapsed to the ground, pairs of eerie green eyes emerged from all sides, and the cold sunlight reflected upon several purple figures.

The Black-striped Spiders crawled on the ground, climbed up the trees, continuously shooting white spider silk, their eight slender legs leaping over the fallen Attendant Bees, proceeding toward the depths of the valley.

At the same time,

in various places around the valley, the Black-striped Spiders launched their revenge actions.

Before long,

the Attendant Bees emerged from the depths of the valley, fluttering in mid-air, their fluttering white translucent wings creating buzzing echoes of frustration.

After a period of recuperation, the size of the Attendant Bee Swarm had grown significantly, at a glance appearing to number in the dozens, including some Tier Three leader Attendant Bees.

If the Attendant Bee Swarm were to be categorized by strength, the few Tier Three leader Attendant Bees would undoubtedly sit at the top of the hierarchy, enjoying the best resources and the most comfortable dwelling places.

However, when the Swarm faces danger, the privileges enjoyed in peaceful times will transform into the courage to stand out.

The Tier Two Attendant Bees, known as elite Attendant Bees, served as the backbone of the Swarm, destined to shoulder significant responsibilities, contributing their utmost in both daily tasks and times of crisis.