Not long after, the rapidly fleeing Tian Meng Iceworm suddenly stopped its swift movement, slowly turned its head, and looked in the direction of Lu Jingming and the others.
"That Silvermoon Flood Dragon Emperor was actually hunted by humans? Serves it right! How dare you absorb Big Bro's life energy back then! Good riddance!" The Tian Meng Iceworm first sensed the aura of the deceased Silvermoon Flood Dragon Emperor, then recalled its ten-thousand-year imprisonment, and an uncontrollable rage surged within its heart, causing it to curse loudly.
But then, it sensed Lu Jingming's presence.
"Such powerful spiritual force, and this terrifying vitality! What kind of monster is this? Have humans become so outrageous now? It's a pity he doesn't have a spiritual-type martial soul; I wonder if he can meet Big Bro's needs?" The Tian Meng Iceworm was both shocked and confused, amazed by Lu Jingming's powerful spiritual force and vitality.
However, just as it was full of curiosity and wanted to further investigate Lu Jingming's situation, it suddenly felt a sharp pain in its mind. Immediately after, a wisp of spiritual force it had cautiously released was abruptly severed by an irresistible powerful force. In the blurred memories from the spiritual force feedback, only a dazzling, chilling sword light remained.
"Holy cow! This human is too terrifying! Big Bro is a dignified million-year spiritual-type soul beast! Even Di Tian couldn't detect Big Bro's spiritual force! How did she sense it? Can't mess with her, can't mess with her, gotta run, gotta run!" The Tian Meng Iceworm was scared pale and dared not linger for another second.
It didn't care about the loss of that precious wisp of spiritual force and desperately fled in the opposite direction of Lu Jingming and the others, looking so disheveled as if it feared Jingliu would catch up and cleave it with a sword.
Although the Tian Meng Iceworm drooled over Lu Jingming's immensely powerful spiritual force and terrifying talent, it was also unsure if Lu Jingming, who lacked a spiritual-type martial soul, could truly meet its needs.
What's more, Lu Jingming had Jingliu, such an utterly terrifying human female soul master, by his side, which completely dispelled its idea of approaching. It could only flee in panic.
"What's wrong, Teacher?" Lu Jingming, who had been immersed in meditation, suddenly noticed a fleeting wisp of sword intent emanating from Jingliu.
As Jingliu's direct disciple, he was exceptionally sensitive to this familiar sword intent, so he quickly opened his eyes and looked at Jingliu with a puzzled expression.
"Nothing, just a small bug," Jingliu said calmly, her tone flat. Although that bug had powerful spiritual force, capable of extending a wisp of it over a hundred kilometers, it was too weak to capture her attention.
"A bug?" Lu Jingming was a bit bewildered, but he had absolute trust in Jingliu. Since his teacher said it was fine, there certainly wouldn't be any major problem. So, he didn't ask further, slowly closed his eyes again, and re-entered deep meditation, fully immersing himself in the world of cultivation.
The deepest core area of the Star Dou Great Forest was quiet and profound, with ethereal mist like a light veil swirling among the gigantic ancient trees.
"Di Tian, Tian Meng has escaped." A gentle voice broke the silence here.
It was Bi Ji speaking. She had a slender figure, and a cascade of emerald green hair flowed smoothly like a waterfall. Her face was delicate and gentle, exuding intellect and grace in every movement.
At this moment, she found Di Tian, bringing a rather surprising piece of news. Just now, the Tian Meng Iceworm, imprisoned for ten thousand years, had somehow managed to silently conceal its aura and escape right under the noses of the 100,000-year soul beasts guarding it.
"Is that so? Ten thousand years, it's about time it made some progress," Di Tian said calmly upon hearing this.
The Tian Meng Iceworm's million-year life energy had been completely drained by the soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest over these long ten thousand years. Those powerful 100,000-year soul beasts, and even the several great ferocious beasts, had greatly increased their strength by absorbing the Tian Meng Iceworm's life energy.
When the Tian Meng Iceworm was first discovered, Di Tian's heart was indeed severely shocked. At that time, the Tian Meng Iceworm's cultivation was infinitely close to a million years, and its powerful aura was comparable to the Deep Sea Demon Whale King that had rampaged in the ocean ten thousand years ago.
However, when he truly witnessed the Tian Meng Iceworm's surprisingly disappointing combat power, Di Tian's expectation instantly turned into disappointment.
The initial idea of cultivating the Tian Meng Iceworm into an important fighting force for the soul beast race was completely shattered.
From then on, Di Tian allowed other ferocious beasts to imprison the Tian Meng Iceworm, treating it as a "tool" to increase their cultivation.
After all, for the future of the soul beast race, they urgently needed more high-end fighting power, and a "good-for-nothing" like the Tian Meng Iceworm simply couldn't gain Di Tian's attention.
Instead of keeping it useless, it was better to put it to good use and let it contribute its last bit of value to the development of the soul beast race.
Di Tian didn't take this escape of the Tian Meng Iceworm to heart. In his opinion, after ten thousand years, the Tian Meng Iceworm had already been squeezed dry of its usefulness. Even if it escaped, it wouldn't matter much.
"You intentionally let it go." Di Tian's gaze suddenly fell on Bi Ji, his expression flat. He clearly remembered that Bi Ji's territory was next to the place where the Tian Meng Iceworm was imprisoned.
The 100,000-year soul beasts guarding it might not have noticed the Tian Meng Iceworm's escape, but with Bi Ji's strength and perception, it was absolutely impossible for her to be unaware.
Bi Ji, as the fourth-ranked super ferocious beast among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, possessed a terrifying cultivation of up to 580,000 years. In the entire Star Dou Great Forest, her strength and wisdom were not to be underestimated.
In terms of status, she was only second to Di Tian, and she held great prestige among the soul beasts. Sometimes, even Di Tian would ask for her opinion.
With the Tian Meng Iceworm's meager abilities, wanting to completely deceive Bi Ji was simply a fantasy. Therefore, Di Tian concluded that Bi Ji had intentionally released the Tian Meng Iceworm.
"Still couldn't hide it from you," Bi Ji sighed softly, a helpless, bitter smile on her face. Her heart was kind, and she truly couldn't bear to see the Tian Meng Iceworm continue to suffer such torment.
But for the sake of all the soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, she had always had to choose to turn a blind eye, and she was also one of the few ferocious beasts who had not absorbed the Tian Meng Iceworm's life energy.
"I know you're soft-hearted, but even if you let it go, it won't survive," Di Tian's voice was low and cold, devoid of any emotion.
"Why?" Bi Ji's eyes were full of doubt. She did feel pity for the Tian Meng Iceworm. Over these long ten thousand years, she had witnessed everything the Tian Meng Iceworm had endured.However, she simply couldn't understand why Di Tian was so certain that the Tian Meng Iceworm wouldn't survive.