Congyun Mountains.
Quack—
As the Black Eyed Ghost Crow's strange cry sounded, Lin Sheng had already arrived at the outer area.
In a densely vegetated forest, Sun Hai and Yao Quan had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Lin Sheng arrive, they immediately stepped forward quickly to greet him.
"Greetings, Gongzi."
"Rise," Lin Sheng said flatly. "Tell me about it, this time's discovery."
Although the information they sent confirmed the discovery of a High-Level Spirit Beast, it didn't specify what kind of Spirit Beast it was, so He was also a little curious about what they had discovered.
"Reporting to Gongzi, this discovery is a long story. It was my subordinate who found traces suspected to be of an Earth Fiend Python's activity while gathering herbs in the central area. After I received the news, I immediately went to investigate with Gang Leader Sun."
"After several days of searching, we indeed found that Earth Fiend Python."
It was Yao Quan, the leader of the Medicine Gang, who spoke. He paused here and glanced at Sun Hai before continuing.
"However, when the two of us found that Earth Fiend Python, it was already a corpse."
"Corpse?" Hearing this, Lin Sheng's brow furrowed slightly.
Seeing the displeasure on Lin Sheng's face, Sun Hai quickly continued.
"Although it was a corpse and there wasn't much left on it, we can be sure that the Earth Fiend Python's death was no more than two days ago.
Just as Gang Leader Yao and I were about to bring back the remains of the Earth Fiend Python, two beast roars suddenly sounded from nearby."
"We are certain that the owners of these two beast roars were definitely two powerful ferocious beasts at the High-Level Spirit Beast level. We didn't dare to stay long and could only leave in a hurry. When we returned half a day later, the Earth Fiend Python's corpse had disappeared, and the nearby vegetation was severely damaged. Based on our experience, it was definitely a battle between two powerful monstrous beasts."
"We just don't know how the final battle turned out? That's why the two of us sent a message to you, Gongzi."
After Sun Hai finished speaking, his face showed a hint of unease.
Clearly, he was unsure whether calling Gongzi over so hastily would result in punishment.
"Where is the location? Take me there."
A hint of surprise appeared on Lin Sheng's face. He pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Yes... yes, your subordinates will take you there immediately, Gongzi."
Seeing that Lin Sheng had no intention of blaming them, Sun Hai and Yao Quan exchanged glances, both feeling relieved in their hearts, and quickly nodded in agreement.
Led by the two, the three quickly disappeared into the forest.
As for Little Black and Big Yellow, considering the danger in the central area, He didn't bring them along, but left them in the forest.
In the outer area, with Little Black's strength, nothing would naturally happen. As for Big Yellow, it had already dug a hole in the ground and burrowed into it.
Two days later.
Central area of the mountain range.
After passing through the highly toxic gas and traveling several hundred miles further, Sun Hai and Yao Quan finally stopped.
"We're here, Gongzi. This is the area where the Earth Fiend Python's tracks were found."
Lin Sheng's gaze swept around. This area was located on the mountainside of a large mountain with a considerable area.
The surroundings were filled with broken stones, earth pits, and large areas of shattered ancient trees. Judging from the tragic state in front of him, the battle that erupted at that time was extremely fierce.
"To have such destructive power, it must be a High-Level Spirit Beast, and there were two of them," Lin Sheng's eyes lit up.
Encountering two High-Level Spirit Beasts at once, after absorbing and refining them, the activation progress of the Fourth Imprint would definitely increase greatly, and if He was lucky, He might even be able to activate the Fourth Imprint directly.
He had been lucky while traveling these past two days and had also encountered two Elementary Level Spirit Beasts, which He killed and absorbed easily.
Now the activation progress of the Fourth Imprint had reached 75%.
Even without these two High-Level Spirit Beasts, as long as He spent more time in the central area, He could slowly activate the Fourth Imprint.
"You two go back first."
Since they had reached their destination, there was no need for Sun Hai and Yao Quan to stay. Lin Sheng waved his hand, signaling them to return, and without waiting for their response, his figure quickly disappeared from the spot.
After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, Lin Sheng's figure emerged, looking at the dried dark brown bloodstains on the ground vegetation.
He extended his palm and touched the vegetation. A series of information quickly appeared on the panel.
【Beast Name: Earth Fiend Python (Spirit Beast)】
【Entire body is dark black, strength is like a dragon, body is covered with thick scales...】
【Requirement for entering body: Constitution 8】
【Effect of entering body: Strength Increase 8, Constitution Increase 8, Agility Increase 5】
【Talent: Scale Regeneration】
"As expected, it's the blood of that Earth Fiend Python, and it is indeed a High-Level Spirit Beast," Lin Sheng said, stroking his chin, without any surprise on his face.
"Although from the attribute points, this Earth Fiend Python can only be considered ordinary among High-Level Spirit Beasts, it is still a High-Level Spirit Beast. To be able to hunt it down, it seems the High-Level Spirit Beast that made the move is very strong, it should be a top performer among High-Level Spirit Beasts."
"Then the other High-Level Spirit Beast that fought with it should also be not much weaker."
Two top performers among High-Level Spirit Beasts. Thinking of this, Lin Sheng was in a great mood.
If He could find Spirit Beasts of this level, activating the Fourth Imprint would be almost a certainty.
Thinking of this, He immediately switched to High Perception Beast Body Integration.
As his five senses, including smell, hearing, and sight, surged, his body and mind began to quickly move through the forest.
The most efficient way to track monstrous beasts is naturally through smell.
Soon, various smells flooded his nasal cavity.
These were the smells emitted by various monstrous beasts, plants, and even poisonous insects.
He quickly filtered and distinguished them, quickly narrowing down the myriad of smells to just a few.
These few were the ones that were most likely to contain the scent of those two High-Level Spirit Beasts after filtering.
The stronger a biological entity is, the more vigorous the aura it naturally emits.
Unless it deliberately conceals it, beasts generally don't do this.
After all, many powerful monstrous beasts have territorial awareness and delineate their activity areas based on their own aura.
Lin Sheng's steps did not stop, and He directly pursued the most concentrated aura.
Half a day passed.
Lin Sheng stood outside a swampy muddy area, his brow slightly furrowed.
Upon reaching here, the aura disappeared. Clearly, these swampy muddy areas had the effect of shielding auras.
Moreover, this swampy muddy area was vast, and searching it would undoubtedly take a lot of time.
Especially since monstrous beasts often sleep for a long time, it could be anywhere from several days to several months.
Furthermore, He couldn't be sure if the owner of this aura was truly within this swampy muddy area.
After a brief thought, He turned and left, directly pursuing the second aura.
This time it took a day.
Dark green powerful energy shot out, knocking down a monstrous beast shaped like a yak.
Before it could get up, Lin Sheng's palm had already inserted into its neck. In just a few breaths, the yak monstrous beast's body shriveled up.
"Two points of activation progress, better than nothing..."
Looking at the changes on the panel, He exhaled lightly.
The yak monstrous beast in front of him was also not a High-Level Spirit Beast, but an Elementary Level Spirit Beast.
This result made him a little disappointed. Clearly, trying to find those two High-Level Spirit Beasts purely by scent would probably be much more troublesome than expected.
"Forget it, it's just a matter of spending more time. Since there's nothing else to do, even if it's just hunting Elementary Level Spirit Beasts, I must completely activate the Fourth Imprint."
Without stopping, his figure quickly disappeared from the spot.
Meanwhile, at the foot of the Congyun Mountains.
A sturdy figure wearing light armor emerged.
Looking at the lush and vast mountain range in front of him, a hint of recollection appeared on his face.
"Congyun Mountains, it's been a long time. Those beasts inside should still be sleeping."
As He murmured softly, several figures quickly approached.
In less than ten seconds, they were within a few meters of his figure, kneeling on one knee.
"Chen Feng, the 駐守官 of Congyun Mountains, greets Divine Constable."
"Rise. This official is here this time for the matter of Luoshui County. I give you one day to investigate the organization, regardless of size, that has been continuously transporting live Spirit Beasts outwards in the past two to three months."
He Lanjiang spoke flatly without turning his head.
"Yes, your subordinates will do so immediately," the several figures nodded in response and quickly disappeared.
After a while, He Lanjiang withdrew his gaze, took out the package from his back, which contained two short spears.
He clasped his hands together, and the two short spears combined into one gilded great spear.
The spear shaft was thick like an iron pillar, its body was made of hundreds of times refined dark gold, and the spear tip gleamed with cold light.
"You've been hiding and watching for so long, why don't you get out."
He ran his fingertip over the spearhead, flicked it, and a bright yellow powerful energy fell into the forest on one side like a stream of light.
Puff—
A muffled sound came from the forest. The bright yellow powerful energy was blocked by a black umbrella leaf.
"Tsk tsk tsk... I knew it. With your cunning, Old Man He, this matter would definitely not be settled so easily."
Lan Man said lazily, holding a black umbrella.
"Lan Man, as expected, it's you Dark Star. In the past, I was too lazy to bother with you because you acted low-key, but it seems you've become arrogant. Very well, after killing so many of my people and losing a Blazing Star Envoy, it should be a lesson for you."
He Lanjiang held his long spear horizontally, pointing the tip directly at the opponent, and spoke coldly.
"Oh, you really scared me to death. Aren't you afraid of the wind blowing your tongue out..."
Lan Man made a startled expression and took two steps back, but quickly showed a mocking smile.
"Still as good at using your tongue as ever. Let me see how much you've improved over the years."
As his voice fell, He Lanjiang's long spear was like a dragon, and terrifying powerful energy surged out from the long spear, heading straight for Lan Man.
*
*
Central area of the mountain range.
In a lake of considerable size, brown-yellow eyes the size of a human head suddenly emerged from the calm surface of the lake.
A wolf beast drinking water at the edge of the lake seemed to sense something, turned around in panic, and darted into the forest.
However, as a low growl sounded in the lake, a flash of lightning shot out in the next moment.
The white-furred wolf beast's body stiffened, and after a painful whimper, it fell directly to the ground, unable to move.
Soon, a long, narrow figure shot out from the lake.
This was a strange ferocious beast with a flat head and a dark green body, resembling a Giant Salamander, but dozens of times larger.
Two faint blue patterns shimmered on both sides of its smooth body, emitting a faint glow that flickered with its breathing.
As the Giant Salamander-like monstrous beast walked out of the lake, the white-furred wolf beast lying on the ground showed fear in its eyes.
It desperately tried to struggle, but it was useless. It could only watch as it approached. While still dozens of meters away, the Giant Salamander had already extended its scarlet long tongue, directly wrapping around the wolf beast and pulling it back.
The Giant Salamander bit it in one gulp, and the white-furred wolf beast's sturdy body shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Not long after, only a wolf hide remained. The Giant Salamander seemed somewhat unsatisfied, but still dragged its body back into the lake.
As the Giant Salamander moved, several large wounds were clearly visible on its abdomen, faintly revealing the tender pink flesh that had just started to grow.
One day later.
In the forest, a nimble Jin Qianbao darted through the trees at high speed, as if some great ferocious creature was chasing it.
In the blink of an eye, it had darted dozens of meters away, but while its speed was fast, a figure behind it was even faster, and the distance between the two quickly closed.
Without giving the Jin Qianbao another chance to escape, a powerful force shot out, directly knocking the Jin Qianbao to the ground.
Just as it struggled to get up and continue to flee, a black riding boot had already stepped on it.
"Still running!"
Lin Sheng exerted force with his foot, directly crushing the Jin Qianbao's head.
Although this Jin Qianbao was only an Elementary Level Spirit Beast, its speed was extremely fast. Perhaps even an ordinary High-Level Spirit Beast might not be able to catch up to it.
Without switching to a speed-type beast body integration, Lin Sheng had to put in some effort to chase it.
The reason for pursuing it relentlessly was naturally because it was a rare leopard-type Spirit Beast.
It happened to be useful for cultivating the Leopard Transformation Three Absolute Legs.
After skillfully absorbing it into his body, the situation was indeed as he had expected. The Jin Qianbao's agility increase was as high as eight points.
The strength increase was also 6 points, and coupled with the constitution increase, it had a total attribute increase of 19 points. This was already the limit for an Elementary Level Spirit Beast. If it could take another step forward, it would be a true High-Level Spirit Beast, but unfortunately, it no longer had that opportunity.
As its blood was completely drained, the activation progress increased by another two points.
Looking at the activation progress that was already approaching the 80% mark, a smile appeared on Lin Sheng's face.
"It's just a pity, I still haven't found any trace of a High-Level Spirit Beast, but even if I just hunt Elementary Level Spirit Beasts, it should be enough in about half a month."
Suddenly, as if he thought of something, his gaze fell on the depths of the mountain range in the distance.
"Speaking of which, I've never been to the deep areas. Perhaps I can get closer. The probability of finding powerful Spirit Beasts should also be higher."
Thinking this, He quickly rushed towards the deeper area.
In half a day, He had already approached the deep area.
He looked into the distance. A dense, colorful miasma was a hundred miles away.
This miasma was called the Five Poisons Miasma, and it was the boundary dividing the central and deep areas of the Congyun Mountains.
Crossing this mass of miasma roughly meant entering the deep area.
However, this miasma was extremely toxic. Even ordinary Bones Transformation Martial Artists would perish in an instant if they entered it without high-quality detoxification pills.