Gold-Devouring

A rare insect species ranked on the Strange Insect Ranking. They consume metal, spiritual energy, and even ghostly substances with equal ease, making them devastating against a wide range of magical treasures.

Definition

Story context

Fellow Daoists, buckle up—this is the chapter where Han Li finally unleashes his ace in the hole, and *hoo boy* does it deliver. After months of discreet preparation, our favorite cautious mountain boy decides the moment has come to see if those legendary Gold Devouring Beetles actually live up to the hype. Spoiler: they absolutely do. The eccentric demonic cultivator, who until now was styling on a whole squad of Core Formation cultivators with his ghost skulls and forbidden treasures, finds himself staring at a swarm that eats his magic wheel for breakfast. If you've been craving that first big "oh no, *he's* the monster now" moment, this is the chapter.

Why it matters

Now, here's the *real* payoff moment for all those chapters where Han Li was quietly raising his bugs. The Gold Devouring Beetles have been hyped on the Strange Insect Ranking since their introduction, but this is the first time we see them in full combat against a serious threat. Notice the narrative rhythm: the eccentric man escalates his power three times (banners → skulls → skulls fed fingers), and the beetles laugh at every escalation. That's not just a fight scene; that's a *power benchmark*. Han Li is publicly signaling that he now possesses a trump card capable of matching a peak Core Formation demonic cultivator. From this point on, the other cultivators on this expedition will look at him *very* differently—and so should you.