Deep in the canyon, mountain ranges stretched on and on, dotted with verdant pines and towering Ancient Wood.

Among the many Desolate Mountains, to find such a place teeming with life was truly a rare sight.

WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

A series of afterimages darted through the woods. Their speed varied, yet they moved in an orderly, purposeful manner.

"Don’t lose it!" A deep voice suddenly rang out. Ten figures fanned out and resumed their swift pursuit.

After about ten minutes, the figure in the lead came to an abrupt halt. He raised a hand and quickly pressed it down, signaling for those behind him to take cover.

The figures behind him responded instantly, concealing themselves in the bushes. They carefully followed the leader for another few dozen meters before coming to a stop.

Now, all ten figures were hidden within the bushes, their auras retracted. Pairs of eyes peered out from between the leaves.

In their line of sight was a massive hollow.

The Spiritual Qi within was incredibly dense, to the point of liquefying in the air. A single breath could significantly enhance one’s Cultivation.

However, these people were not focused on the Spiritual Qi. Their target was a cheetah-like Exotic Beast paused in the middle of the hollow.

This Exotic Beast was covered in a layer of jade-white Scale Armor that looked as if it were sculpted. A long, incredibly sharp, needle-tipped horn grew from its head.

It stood on a large rock in the hollow, its crimson eyes scanning the surroundings with a greedy glint.

Then, it leaped off the rock and continued toward the lowest point of the hollow.

Seeing this, a figure in the bushes narrowed his eyes and commanded, "The Spirit-Devouring Beast is heading down. You few, circle around quietly and surround the hollow. Don’t let it escape."

Upon hearing the order, several figures slipped away, circling from both sides to converge on the hollow.

"Let’s make our move!" the figure shouted.

"Chi Tian, don’t ruin this for me! The Spirit-Devouring Beast came here for a reason. If you make a reckless move, don’t blame me for what happens next."

Next to that figure stood another, this one named Lupao. As he watched the others move, a strange green light flared in his eyes, and he sternly warned the man beside him.

These people were a team from the Demon Abyss, led by Lupao and Chi Tian.

Chi Tian said coldly, "The Spiritual Qi here is incredibly rich. The Spirit-Devouring Beast must be here to devour it, so it won’t be on high alert for us. We can strike now, kill it in one move, and take its Spirit Core. What are you waiting for? You’ll regret it if you miss this chance."

"Captain, we’re all ready," another team member chimed in. "Let’s just do it now so we can get to the Third Pass sooner."

The green light in Lupao’s eyes flickered as he seemed to ponder something. Then, he nodded.

"Hmph!" Seeing this, Chi Tian snorted. ’In the end, you still had to listen to me.’

"Don’t forget," Lupao said disdainfully, "I’m the captain of this team. If anything is to be done, I’m the one who gives the orders. You don’t have the authority."

"You..."

Chi Tian’s eyes flashed with a bloody light, and he clenched his fists tightly.

Lupao was the captain this time, and he had been suppressing Chi Tian at every turn. Chi Tian was furious about it.

However, Lupao was at the Spiritual Spring Fourth Layer, the strongest Disciple in the Demon Abyss. Although Chi Tian was also one of the strongest Disciples, he was only at the Spiritual Spring Second Layer. He was no match for Lupao and didn’t dare to act out, so he could only swallow his anger.

The others knew Chi Tian and Lupao didn’t get along and had been bickering the entire trip. They all kept quiet, waiting for the command.

"Move out!"

Lupao shot Chi Tian a disdainful look, then charged out from the bushes. The others followed close behind.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH!

From several other directions, dark figures flashed into view, rapidly converging on the hollow.

In the hollow, the Spirit-Devouring Beast seemed to sense their approach. It stopped, its head whipping around to scan its surroundings, its eyes blazing with fury.

It cast a reluctant glance toward the bottom of the hollow, as if something alluring there was making it hesitate.

Meanwhile, the Demon Abyss group’s encirclement grew tighter and tighter.

Seeing this, the Spirit-Devouring Beast abandoned its descent and turned fiercely on its attackers, the bloodlust in its eyes growing ever more intense.

WHOOSH!

It was incredibly fast. Like a streak of white light, it charged toward the weakest point in their formation.

"Stop it! Don’t let it escape!"

Lupao shouted coldly, charging forward like a streak of green light.

Watching the Spirit-Devouring Beast charge toward him, a Disciple braced himself. With a grave expression, he raised a Blood Saber and slashed down.

He had personally witnessed this bizarre creature kill seven people in an instant back in the canyon.

The Blood Saber slashed down, creating countless chilling glints of light that flew toward the charging Spirit-Devouring Beast. Empowered by True Essence Ninth Layer Magical Power, the attack was devastating.

The Spirit-Devouring Beast recoiled, and its body suddenly sank into the ground.

Seeing this, the Demon Abyss Disciple finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But before he could celebrate, the Spirit-Devouring Beast’s form tunneled bizarrely underground, only to burst out from beneath his feet an instant later.

Its long, stinger-like horn pierced the sole of the Disciple’s foot.

"AHH!"

A miserable scream suddenly rang out.

Not far away, Ye Wushuang’s group of ten, who had entered the mountain range, all frowned. They scouted ahead with their Divine Sense and rapidly approached the hollow. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Captain, there are people down there," Meng Fanx said.

Ye Wushuang, Dii Qingxue, and the others had already locked onto them with their Divine Sense.

"It’s those bastards from the Demon Abyss."

Ye Rou, Yangg Qing’er, and Qianling’s expressions hardened, and their auras turned sharp, leaving Meng Fanx and the others confused.

But the men didn’t know that the women had all witnessed the cruel methods of the Demon Abyss firsthand, and they felt an instinctive revulsion toward them.

"And look, an old acquaintance," Ye Wushuang said, his gaze locking onto Chi Tian’s figure. A cold smile touched his lips.

"Look at that Exotic Beast," Dii Qingxue said, pointing it out to Ye Wushuang.

Ye Wushuang followed her finger and saw that the Spirit-Devouring Beast’s sharp horn had pierced through the body of a Demon Abyss Disciple.

The beast’s originally white body suddenly turned a vivid scarlet, as if it had devoured all the blood of the Demon Abyss Disciple.

But that wasn’t the strangest part.

The strangest thing was that the Spirit-Devouring Beast’s body then returned to its original color, while the Disciple collapsed, his skin turning blood-red—just like the corpses in the canyon.

’So the seven corpses in the canyon must be this Exotic Beast’s doing. As for the other three, that must have been the work of the Demon Abyss members.’

Ye Wushuang finally understood the strange circumstances in the canyon.

Dii Qingxue explained, "That’s a Spirit-Devouring Beast. It has a Spirit Core in its body that contains a terrifying amount of Spiritual Qi, equivalent to several thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Equivalent to several thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Ye Wushuang was astonished. He was no longer as clueless as he once was; he knew what a treasure a Top-Grade Spirit Stone was and understood its immense value.

"Kid, the Spirit-Devouring Beast’s Spirit Core is more than just that. It has tons of benefits! You have to get your hands on it. It’ll be a huge help later," the Dragon Cat suddenly interjected, its voice filled with excitement.