Full health is the kill threshold, no matter if you're a god or a demon!

After leaving the teleportation plaza, Liu Nian headed towards the Hive Zone on the third floor.

After adjustments by tens of thousands of beekeepers, a portion of the third floor has been transformed into a giant beehive, with an intricate internal structure, crisscrossing passages, and a faint fragrance of nectar and magic potions in the air.

One of Miya'er's clones is located here, looking just like the one Liu Nian first saw.

However, the two only resemble each other in appearance. In reality, this is a clone constructed from magic and a physical body. It is somewhat similar to Liu Nian's Deceptive Body, but it is not as high-level as Liu Nian's.

"My lord, you've arrived. The research on the evolution of the self-destruct skill has yielded results." Miya'er cut straight to the point. "Based on the plasticity of the energy circuits and life structure within our people, I've developed two versions."

"The first version, 'Crystal Gland' (passive). After implantation, 5 seconds after receiving fatal damage, the magic power within the body will crystallize and violently erupt, generating highly penetrating magic fragments and shockwaves, dealing mixed damage of (1500% of the victim's attack power + 2000% of their spell power) to enemies within a five-meter radius. The advantage is that it does not require active activation and has a low evolution cost, but the damage is not very high."

"The second version, 'Seed of Burning Heart' (Active). After implantation, it can actively detonate all of one's energy within 3 seconds, causing mixed damage of (100% of the victim's current health + 100% of their current mana + 5000% of their attack power + 5000% of their spell power). However, this requires a lot of internal space, and most members of the clan may need to sacrifice some other functional organs."

Liu Nian listened carefully, quickly assessing the tactical value of the two options in his mind.

The passive version is good value for money, while the active version is more flexible and deals explosive damage, but both skills have a delay...

However, it makes sense, otherwise this thing would be too invincible.

Liu Nian made a decision: "Prioritize evolving the active version for elite troops and main combat troops, and evolve the passive version for other units such as support units."

Miya nodded and estimated, "If we push the plan forward at full speed, with my current 'Bee Breeding Chamber' conversion efficiency, we can complete about three hundred active evolutions and one thousand passive evolutions per hour. Of course, this will consume a lot of resources."

"Okay. You can allocate the specific resources yourself. I don't think I'll launch a large-scale battle anytime soon. Have all the bee-men prepare for evolution, starting with the elites, from highest to lowest level. You can arrange the specifics. Also, have the bee-men below level 80 organize themselves to train in the Underdark. I recommend they go to the Fungus Tribe, both to level up and to collect 'Bond Badges'," Liu Nian instructed.

"Yes, sir."

After making arrangements with the bee people, Liu Nian teleported to Azure Town and began exploring the underground areas surrounding the town.

His target today is all areas within a 50-kilometer radius of the town of Azure, with a focus on any suspicious unnatural traces appearing in the underground structures.

Liu Nian summoned Xiao Lan and issued a command.

"Gurgle..." Little Blue emitted a submissive ripple, its dark blue body slightly contracting to indicate that it understood.

For the rest of the day, Liu Nian used Xiao Lan as a super detection tool to begin a detailed scan of the surrounding environment.

Just as Liu Nian had predicted, Xiao Lan's ability was indeed very suitable for this kind of thing!

It can transform its body into countless tiny streams of water, seeping into the crevices of rocks, the pores of soil, and even the interior of some soft rock layers. These streams carry its perception, like billions of invisible tentacles, feeding back information about what is happening underground.

Through the connection of consciousness, a complex and vast three-dimensional map gradually formed in Liu Nian's mind.

He "saw" a winding underground river, a rich metal vein, the nests of some low-level underground creatures, and ancient, mostly collapsed, underground ruins...

However, no newly excavated passage was found. Instead, to the east of the Azure Town, beneath a seemingly calm lake, he discovered a hidden underwater passage leading to a submerged cave. The cave contained obvious signs of artificial restoration and some reliefs resembling those used in rituals, exuding a faint aura of the dead. It was likely a forgotten tomb or a sealed place.

He had Xiao Lan mark all the suspicious points, especially those energy stagnation points, so he could check them out when he had free time.

While Liu Nian was focused on exploration, an undercurrent was surging within the Azure Town.

--------

In the azure town, in the western district, there is an inconspicuous shop with a secret room in the backyard.

The air here was filled with a strange smell of herbs and mold, and a few dim fluorite stones barely illuminated the faces of the people sitting around the wooden table.

The leader was Matt, a level 89 druid.

He was thin, with high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, and a look that flickered with anxiety and a morbid fanaticism.

Ever since Liu Nian publicly revealed the existence of the "Banner of Exile," these "traitors" who had already secretly sided with foreign tribes or harbored ulterior motives have found their lives increasingly difficult.

Sitting to Matt's right was Yel (LV85), whose habitually insincere, warm smile now appeared somewhat stiff, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table: "...The 'Anvil and Spark' guild explicitly rejected our cooperation proposal; that short guild leader almost turned on us on the spot. Those barbarians from 'Northern Winds' simply told us to get out of their sight. The other guys who wavered before are pretty much the same. The Banner of Exile... that banner is like a death warrant. Those guys who used to joke and exchange benefits with us now see us like we're the plague! Bah! They all know how to be righteous now!"

Rick (LV79) spat: "Fence-sitters! A bunch of spineless cowards! They weren't like this when they were taking our bribes!"

"Circumstances are beyond our control," Matt said in a hoarse voice. "Liu Nian holds the banner of exile, and he has the backing of Wu Zhan, Wang Mian, and their respective forces. Those Chinese are currently riding high, their power is rampant, who dares to openly oppose them?"

"What do we do then? Are we just going to wait to die?" A newly joined Druid Daka (LV71) couldn't help but ask. "I heard... the Dragon Kingdom people are already secretly investigating the previous sabotage incidents. Could we already be being watched?"

"Shut up!" Matt hissed, his cold gaze sweeping over the newcomer. "What's the panic? Justice will prevail!"

His gaze shifted to Morgan Lily (LV29), a girl sitting in the shadows in the corner who was almost invisible.