Once their target was set, the group wasted no time and headed straight toward Sandstorm Valley.
Sandstorm Valley was one of the few routes leading into the poisonous miasma zone at the heart of Death Canyon. It was also one of the most dangerous.
Even at the outer edges, thousand-year soul beasts often appeared.
The valley's gales lashed like salted whips, tearing the ground raw. Winds carried sand and gravel, smashing against cliffs, while the honeycomb-like caves along the rock face shrieked with piercing whistles—like tens of thousands of wailing ghosts trapped in the stone.
The valley floor was littered with bleached beast bones, half-buried and corroded by the wind and sand.
"This… this place is terrifying!"
Dugu Yan crouched by a rocky ledge, staring nervously into the valley. She swallowed hard.
"Is this the kind of place you usually come to for spirit hunts?"
"This is actually the one place we'd rather avoid."
Hu Liena nodded, her voice uneasy.
"Once, we joined forces to bring down a thirteen-hundred-year-old White-Eyed Black-Striped Tiger. We nearly became bones like those."
Hiss—!
Dugu Yan sucked in a cold breath.
Killing a thousand-year soul beast?!
They were only ten-something-level soul masters! Normally, such a beast required at least a Spirit Elder or Spirit Ancestor to face.
How was that even possible?!
No wonder their talents were leagues above those of the pampered princes and princesses in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
It was shocking, almost unbelievable.
By conventional thinking, seven low-ranked soul masters couldn't hope to defeat a thousand-year beast—they'd more likely be slaughtered. What Dugu Yan didn't know was that the Golden Generation's near-perfect teamwork and the martial soul fusion skill of Hu Liena and Xie Yue had been the deciding factors.
"Brother Linfeng," Zhang Ping asked, "Sandstorm Valley is so big—how are we supposed to find the Mountain-Devouring Python?"
True enough.
The valley stretched vast. The python wasn't about to crawl out and pose for them.
Plenty of other beasts prowled the area, making a head-on encounter unlikely.
"There."
Su Linfeng pointed toward the wind-scoured caves on the cliffs.
"The Mountain-Devouring Python prefers damp places with strict temperature and humidity conditions. It almost always nests in caves."
"Caves?!"
Everyone looked up at the countless caves dotting the cliff walls like a hive and immediately felt their heads ache.
How were they supposed to search them all?
Climbing up would be exhausting, and the cramped spaces would make soul skills difficult to use. If they stumbled into a stronger beast, they'd have no way to defend themselves.
"So many caves…"
Xie Yue grimaced.
"We're not seriously checking each one, are we?"
"No need."
Su Linfeng waved dismissively.
"That'd be too much trouble. The python is huge and hunts medium-to-large omnivorous soul beasts. All we need is the right bait, and it'll come to us."
"But where do we get bait?" Hu Liena asked.
"Oh, we have some."
A sly smile tugged Su Linfeng's lips as he turned toward Li Kai.
Almost instantly, everyone's eyes landed on him.
Right! They had the perfect bait already!
Li Kai's martial spirit was a Mountain Boar—exactly the kind of prey a python loved.
"Why's everyone looking at me?"
Li Kai blinked, confused, checking himself as if something was out of place.
"Go," Zhang Ping ordered bluntly, giving him a shove.
"Down there. Release your martial spirit and lure it out!"
"Huh?!"
It finally clicked, and Li Kai's face went black.
Seriously?! They were going to use him as bait?
But Zhang Ping's glare—still burning from when Li Kai had tried to sneak peeks at her underclothes—was more terrifying than the python.
This was the price of being lewd.
Damn it…
"Brother Linfeng, remember to save me later!"
Li Kai begged with a pitiful look, then trudged toward the valley floor.
Dugu Yan started to protest—
Wasn't it too dangerous to use him like this? What if something happened? After all, this was for her spirit ring!
But Hu Liena tugged her back with a huff.
"Don't worry, Green-haired Sister. Serves him right. He's a creep anyway. Let him go!"
"C-creep?" Dugu Yan muttered blankly.
"Humph~"
Meanwhile, Li Kai had already released his martial spirit. A black boar phantom, nearly three meters tall, enveloped him completely.
Martial Spirit Possession didn't transform him into a boar, but his aura became indistinguishable from one. Though only a phantom, it was enough to fool a mindless century-old Mountain-Devouring Python.
And he was shaking.
Not just Li Kai—the whole boar was trembling as he ventured deeper.
"Everyone, get ready!"
Moments later, Su Linfeng's brow twitched.
"There's movement!"
At the same time, Li Kai's boar spirit shivered violently, as if sensing the imminent threat.
Hisssssss…
From the southwest cliff cave came a chilling hiss.
Whoosh!
Suddenly—
As Li Kai looked up, a black shadow shot from the cave like lightning, diving straight at the giant boar.
Holy crap—it's huge!
Was that even a python?! It was oversized!
Li Kai's mind went blank. The Mountain-Devouring Python was at least five meters long, its trunk-thick body plunging like a flying serpent from the sky.
"Savage Charge!"
Instinct took over, and Li Kai unleashed his soul skill at once.
BOOM!!!
Boar and python clashed head-on. Shockingly, the impact was evenly matched. But the python proved more agile—twisting midair, its massive coils wrapped Li Kai instantly, slamming him to the ground.
This was a predator at the top of its food chain. Its prey rarely stood a chance.
After a brief knockback, its hunting instincts surged. With a few crushing rolls, it had Li Kai and his martial spirit bound up like a dumpling.
"Ahhh! Brother Linfeng, save me!" Li Kai wailed.
At that moment, Su Linfeng and the others descended from above.
The sight of Su Linfeng nearly brought Li Kai to tears of relief.
But then—
Su Linfeng ran straight past him, not even sparing a glance.
"What the hell?!"
Before Li Kai could comprehend, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and the others arrived, unleashing a barrage of dazzling soul skills on the python, overwhelming it.
"Why isn't Brother Su helping him?" Hu Liena frowned, puzzled.
"Trying to run?"
Su Linfeng's cold snort cut through the chaos.
By then, he had already dashed fifty meters deeper into the valley. His soul beast sensing ability flared as he entered Martial Spirit Possession.
Behind him, a ten-meter-tall golden three-legged crow phantom blazed to life.
His fourth black soul ring shone brilliantly.
SKREEEEEEE!
A piercing cry split the air.
The Golden Crow flapped its wings, releasing nine fiery golden chains that shot toward another cave on the cliff.
One yellow, one purple, two black—four rings!
A Spirit Ancestor!
It was the first time Dugu Yan had seen Su Linfeng truly fight. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
A seven-year-old Spirit Ancestor?!Is he even human?!