Dugu Feng narrowed his eyes and silently observed his surroundings.
Having reached this point, Dugu Feng became even more cautious.
He knew perfectly well that there were Spirit Hall supply points and stationed Soul Masters every few kilometers nearby.
He first waited in a concealed location—a narrow cave at the bottom of the rift valley.
Inside the cave was a small pond about two meters wide, likely accumulated rainwater from the rainy season.
As his Emerald Dragon Snake released its aura, two copper-bell-sized eyes in the pond immediately showed a fawning expression before the entire body instantly retracted into the water.
This was the territory of a Golden-Eyed Crocodile.
A Soul Beast less than a thousand years old.
Millennium Soul Beasts hadn't yet developed human-like intelligence, so Dugu Feng paid it no mind.
Gazing at the sky outside, he soon saw a phantom flash by—the Emerald Dragon Snake he had sent to scout Death Canyon had returned.
"Master, that Unicorn Earthworm is about to complete its evolution! It's highly likely to become a 100,000-Year Soul Beast!"
The Emerald Dragon Snake was very excited.
The Unicorn Earthworm was a peculiar type of Soul Beast—at least Dugu Feng had never encountered such a creature in Sunset Forest or Star Dou Great Forest.
It was a variety of earthworm.
Ordinary earthworms struggling to grow into century-old Soul Beasts was already remarkable enough.
But the Unicorn Earthworm was a rare and ancient Soul Beast whose entire power resided in its single horn.
It possessed both life and poison attributes.
Such opposing attributes appearing in a single Soul Beast demonstrated its uniqueness.
"Hasn't it completed its evolution yet?" Dugu Feng asked.
"Not yet!"
This made Dugu Feng feel somewhat troubled.
If the Unicorn Earthworm had already evolved successfully, he could simply kill the beast, absorb its Spirit Ring, and leave Death Canyon.
But since it hadn't completed its evolution yet, it would be problematic if Bibi Dong arrived before he could act.
"Master, our Emerald Dragon Snake bloodline evolved through the energy from Slaughter City.
This Unicorn Earthworm is a mutated Soul Beast with exceptional talent. If you provide it with some poison and life energy using your Core Pearl, it might evolve quickly!"
The Emerald Dragon Snake suggested again.
After some thought, Dugu Feng realized this was the only way.
"Let's go, we're heading there now!"
The man and snake set off once more.
He left one Emerald Dragon Snake to keep watch on the outskirts of Death Canyon.
After traveling some distance, Dugu Feng simply returned to his old trade.
Tunnel digging!
Since he was alone this time, there was no need to hide anything.
Eight Spider Legs extended from his back, cutting an opening in the ground as easily as slicing tofu.
Then his two Scorpion Pincers began drilling through the earth like sharp drill bits.
Dugu Feng continued burrowing deeper underground.
To avoid leaving any traces that might be discovered by Spirit Hall members, he was going all out.
The Emerald Dragon Snake accompanying him guided his path from the surface.
Through his connection with the Core Pearl, Dugu Feng advanced directly toward the Unicorn Earthworm.
He had another reason for this approach—the Unicorn Earthworm was an underground-dwelling Soul Beast, so approaching from below would make it easier to capture directly.
Above ground.
The Emerald Dragon Snake, being small with strong concealment abilities, flew rapidly while skimming the ground.
As it flew, the surroundings grew increasingly quiet.
It finally stopped when it reached a wetland area.
This wetland is the territory of the Unicorn Earthworm!
The Emerald Dragon Snake rolled its eyes and looked up at the sky.
When a black dot flew across the sky, a green light wave suddenly rose from the center of the wetland.
The black dot descended from the sky and was swept down by a long, strip-like tongue.
The Emerald Dragon Snake was very familiar with this scene.
This was the Unicorn Earthworm hunting.
The green light wave was the Unicorn Earthworm's innate Soul Skill—an offensive beam emitted from its horn, extremely fast. Ordinary Spirit Beasts would be hit before they even had time to react.
This Unicorn Earthworm was very greedy. Even while evolving, it wouldn't let any passing Spirit Beast go.
It needed to take advantage of the Unicorn Earthworm's greed to make it swallow the Core Pearl.
Soon, the Emerald Dragon Snake seized an opportunity. After another Spirit Beast approached the area, the Unicorn Earthworm struck again.
The Emerald Dragon Snake silently tossed the Core Pearl directly toward it.
Even though the Unicorn Earthworm's long tongue only flashed for an instant, the Emerald Dragon Snake still managed to seize the moment.
The Core Pearl, possessing some spatial ability, directly entered the Unicorn Earthworm's stomach along with its tongue.
At that moment, Dugu Feng, hidden underground, sensed it.
The Core Pearl had entered the Unicorn Earthworm's body.
Dugu Feng felt an immense life energy.
"It seems the Unicorn Earthworm has accumulated enough life energy. It only lacks toxic energy—just one final push!"
Through the Core Pearl, Dugu Feng sensed the Unicorn Earthworm's emerald-green horn.
He had already learned from the Emerald Dragon Snake that the beam attack emitted from the Unicorn Earthworm's horn was a toxic energy attack.
This horn was like its Poison Sac, containing powerful toxins.
With a thought from Dugu Feng, the Core Pearl released intense, potent poison.
"Let me give you a hand. Evolve, 100,000-Year Soul Beast!"
He couldn't wait to obtain his sixth Spirit Ring.
At the same time.
On the official road at the outskirts of Death Canyon, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were looking respectfully toward the direction of the Spirit Hall.
In the distance, a luxurious carriage was approaching.
"Welcome, Your Holiness the Pope!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo knelt on one knee to greet Bibi Dong.
"Rise!"
After the carriage stopped, Bibi Dong stepped out.
"Let's absorb that 90,000-year Cave Demon Spider first!"
Bibi Dong commanded directly.
She had decided to absorb her fifth Spirit Ring first.
To wait for the Soul Beast that was about to evolve into a 100,000-year one, Bibi Dong had delayed absorbing her Spirit Ring for nearly a year.
Even her injury recovery hadn't progressed as quickly as expected.
But this Soul Beast still hadn't completed its evolution.
Bibi Dong had run out of patience.
She could only hope it would succeed in evolving by the time she was ready to absorb her sixth Spirit Ring.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were too ashamed to speak.
They could only guide Bibi Dong into Death Canyon.
Failing to secure a 100,000-year Soul Beast, they felt they had betrayed Bibi Dong's trust.
In their hearts, they cursed the Unicorn Earthworm for not evolving successfully, forcing Her Holiness the Pope to settle for a 90,000-year Soul Beast.
The three of them walked inward in silence.
Meanwhile, Dugu Feng, beneath the wetland, spotted Bibi Dong and her companions through the vigilant Emerald Dragon Snake.
He sighed inwardly, fearing the very thing that had come to pass.
Bibi Dong had arrived at this exact moment.
And the Unicorn Earthworm was on the verge of evolution, likely to succeed at any moment.
"Should I use the Core Pearl to absorb some of the Unicorn Earthworm's energy, delaying its evolution until Bibi Dong leaves?"
Dugu Feng thought helplessly.
"Huh!"
Dugu Feng soon noticed something unusual.
Bibi Dong actually wasn't heading in his direction.
Since that was the case, he simply continued waiting.
After a moment, he understood Bibi Dong's intention.
She actually intended to hunt a ninety-thousand-year Spirit Beast.
It seemed Bibi Dong couldn't wait to absorb the Spirit Ring.
(End of Chapter)