Chapter 237: Hao Opens a Door to Hive of Poison

A confirmation screen flashed in front of Hao.

[Option One: Insect Hive World has been selected. This choice is irreversible, host. Confirm now?]

’Yes, system.’ Hao said immediately.

No hesitation. No turning back.

He wasn’t in the mood to overthink anymore. The itch had already crawled under his skin the moment that world was presented.

And now that he made the choice, it felt right.

It was fine. Truly, it was.

He didn’t have to worry about how dangerous that Insect Hive World might be. Not when the Dimensional Convenience Store was his domain.

No creature, no beast, no world-ending threat could lay a finger on him while he remained inside.

The system’s protection was absolute.

That meant he could focus on what truly mattered - selling products.

And maybe meeting the wildest, weirdest, and most unhinged customers that had ever graced his front door.

That alone made the choice worth it.

As for his employees?

It wasn’t that he didn’t care. He just... trusted them.

They weren’t helpless sheep to be tossed into the grinder.

Hao knew Kurome was a capable beast who could turn a battlefield into a kitten playground of blood and corpses.

Tian Lu, on the other hand, had a calm strength that hinted at something terrifying beneath.

Even during training, Hao could tell he wasn’t showing his real self.

Same with Kurome. He hadn’t even seen her true form yet.

But Hao wasn’t planning to station them right away in the Insect Hive World anyway.

That would be careless. Suicidal, even.

No, the plan was to observe first.

Let Kurome and Tian Lu study the world through the store’s connection. Watch the customers. Learn the rules. Understand who and what lurked there.

Who knew? There might be monsters in that place that could easily crush even the strongest of cultivators.

Hao would never send them blindly.

He’d collect information first, gauge their intelligence, strength, and desperation.

Only when the time was right would he send Kurome or Tian Lu into the Insect Hive World itself.

Until then, he’d do what he did best:

Keep the shelves stocked. Manage the store.

And enjoy the show.

[Choice confirmed, host. Establishing connection to Insect Hive World...]

A holographic screen popped up in front of Hao.

[Connection established... Zzirthra Continent (Insect Hive World)]

Hao raised a brow. "Z-zzirthra, huh?"

’No idea what I’m supposed to get from that name.’

[Vital synchronization successful. Random door placement initializing...]

Another line of text flickered into existence:

Fumegrass Fields of Threll’kin

"...Fumegrass?" Hao squinted.

’Sounds like poison plants or smog-covered plains.’

As for Threll’kin, he couldn’t squeeze a single image or clue out of that name. No landmark, no beast, not even a vibe.

’Probably a region inside Zzirthra.’

Still, Hao now had something to work with.

Fumegrass Fields. At the very least, there’d be grass. Fields meant open space. Possibly windy.

Probably flat. Could be hot or misty depending on the fume part, maybe even toxic flora.

If it were some mountainous hellzone, the system would’ve thrown out a name such as Ashfang Peaks or Blistering Rift.

So it probably wasn’t anything too awful.

...Right?

There were only two ways Hao could get exact information about the new door’s location.

First was the "organic" method.

Let some customers stroll in from that side and listen in.

But that was risky.

They could lie, exaggerate, or just be plain useless.

"Senior, I once crossed a river of acid and outwitted a ten-legged venomous mantis." someone would brag.

Meanwhile, all they did was trip on a mossy rock and get carried back by their big sister.

Nope. Hao wasn’t going to rely on adventurer storytelling today.

That left option two.

’System.’

’Provide me an introduction to the place where the door’s been connected to. Go on with the cost - you have my permission."

The system didn’t even bother asking for confirmation anymore.

It already knew his style.

If spending one crystal could save him from a hundred disasters, Hao would grit his teeth and pay up.

One crystal? Fine. Two? He’d wince. Three? Now that was a robbery.

But still, this was his frugal path.

His "crystal-saving way."

[Understood, host. This will cost 1 crystal.]

────────────────

Fumegrass Fields of Threll’kin

A vast, biotoxin-rich basin within the Zzirthra Broodlands, the Fumegrass Fields are a twilight-choked expanse covered in tall, translucent stalks known as fumegrass. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

These flexible, filamentous growths release invisible clouds of airborne neurotoxins when disturbed, affecting both body and mind. Some toxins cause paralysis or hallucinations, while others trigger confusion, rage, or even involuntary hive-speech.

Despite the extreme conditions, life thrives here in warped abundance. Four dominant nests have claimed portions of the fields, each adapted to survive the ever-present toxins.

Nest Threll’kin gives the region its name, while Skarn Hollow, Virex Coil, and Okk’Thaal press against its borders in a constant push and pull of pheromone, territory, and instinct.

Their broods are strange and highly evolved, shaped by the fumes into forms both beautiful and terrifying. Between and around these major powers, countless smaller broods and wild insectoid species struggle for space.

The Fumegrass Fields of Threll’kin are not just a place. They are a living system of poison, memory, and swarm instinct.

Entry without adaptation is death. Survival is transformation.

────────────────

Hao blinked. ’...Okay.’

That’s... a lot of words to say "don’t go there."

’Maybe it’s a little bad...?’

It was full of poison!

Toxic air. Hallucinations. Hive-speech. Probably a hundred different deaths waiting in every breath.

He rubbed his chin.

Well, at least things were still alive in there. Mutated, hostile, possibly glowing in the dark - but alive.

That meant it was still inhabitable.

A functioning ecosystem was better than a wasteland. Life meant potential customers.

But that was also the problem.

He didn’t care if creatures from the Fumegrass Fields came crawling in with mandibles and pheromones. Business was business.

What worried him was whether they’d start leaking neurotoxins into the air and cause his cultivation world customers to foam at the mouth or speak in bug tongues.

That would be bad for sales.

Very bad.

’I’m gonna need to install some kind of decontamination gate.’

’Or at least a sign that says ’Please don’t emit toxins inside.’’

As if sensing Hao’s hidden worries, his Wonderful Heavenly, Ultra-Divine, Galaxy-Grade Guide System suddenly bestowed a good news in his mind.

His slightly gloomy expression instantly brightened up, as if the sun itself had decided to rent space on his forehead.

[Host, you may relax. The store is equipped with the Supreme Air Filtration and Purification Mechanism. All poisons, venoms, hallucinogens, and airborne toxins will be neutralized the moment they enter.]

[Whether they come as secretions, spores, or natural emissions, none will endanger others inside. This process affects only the environment of the store and will not interfere with the creatures’ own bodies.]

[However, it will cost 1 crystal per day to maintain operation.]

Hao blinked, then slowly exhaled with a sigh of relief.

’System, my dear, my savior, my majestic peerless golden thigh to hug forever... you truly think of everything.’

He clasped his hands together.

’If I ever get married, I swear you’ll be sitting in the honored seat, right next to the bride’s parents.’

[...]

Hao sniffled loudly, and let out a grin.

’Tch, what a reliable cheat code.’

Of course, he’d heard the part about it costing one crystal a day. But for a frugal man, this was the easiest expense to justify.

Cheap insurance to keep customers breathing and profits flowing.

He tapped his chin, a new thought sparking.

’Now... where in the Fumegrass Fields did that door exactly land? Hopefully not buried under some oversized bug nest or tucked inside a hole only a worm could crawl through.’

Hao shook his head, pulling himself back to reality. He forced his shoulders to relax, reminding himself not to expect too much too soon.

Creak.

His regular customers filed in one after another. They greeted him like always, but this time their steps slowed.

Their eyes stayed on Hao longer than normal.

Why?

They had gotten used to his expressions over the weeks. But today, there was something in the storekeeper’s gaze they couldn’t ignore.

A sharp focus, a faint glint, as if the storekeeper was looking at something far beyond them.

Their senses, honed sharper than any mortal’s, picked it up immediately.

They couldn’t pin it down, but there was no mistaking it. Something was different about the storekeeper.

Dou Xinshi frowned, then marched straight toward the noodle section.

’What could possibly be on the Esteemed One’s mind?’

Hua Feixue’s curiosity lit up instantly. Without warning, she hooked her arm around Yue Xueyan’s and pulled her away, the pair snooping through shelves and corners.

But after a good while of tiptoeing around, they found absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.

Meanwhile, Lin Yijun, Xiao Lianfeng, and Old Tiger Zhao didn’t even move from their spots. Instead, the three quietly spread their spiritual sense across the store, scanning every inch faster than thought.

Their expressions didn’t change. They came up empty.

Xiao Lianfeng glanced at Lin Yijun. ’...You didn’t catch anything either, Brother Linfeng?’

’All clear on my side.’ Lin Yijun replied calmly.

Old Tiger Zhao snorted. ’Same result for me. Hah, what’s the kid got his eyes on this time?’

The store had quietly turned into a secret investigation squad, all thanks to Hao staring at the door.

...

The day went on, and for some reason, none of the regulars showed signs of leaving.

Hao blinked as he looked around.

Didn’t these people have sect duties? Missions? Training? Cultivation?

Why were they all lounging around like it was a festival?

Then even more customers came in.

And instead of buying and leaving like normal people, they also stayed.

Soon the store felt like a small party where everyone pretended to shop while actually watching the door with him.

At some point, Elder Tang Sheng finally let out a long breath and looked at Lin Yijun and Xiao Lianfeng.

"We should go. It is getting late."

Across the room, Elder Feng Yuhan stared at Yue Xueyan and Hua Feixue, silently sending the same message with his eyes alone.

Yue Xueyan straightened slightly.

Logically, she should agree.

It made sense.

The day was ending, and they all had responsibilities waiting.

Yue Xueyan almost nodded, ready to say yes.

But Hua Feixue leaned closer and whispered. "Maybe... five more minutes, Master?"

Those five words hit the entire room.

Everyone wanted to go.

No one actually wanted to go.