Little Qingpu let out a satisfied cry of admiration, waving its serrated leaves, shaking its head and swaying, playfully waking up the Meat Worm.
The Gold-eating Worm slowly came to, and immediately upon seeing the Tree Python reduced to an ugly snake skin, the Meat Worm turned caterpillar-green and retched, "Ugh," scuttling to the side to vomit profusely.
Too cruel, utterly lacking in conscience, compared to the murderous Little Shanshan and Cannibal Small Qingpu, it was such an incredibly innocent little worm.
Ugly brute, like master, like beast.
In the following days, around the outskirts of Yanpo Forest, one could occasionally spot the shining figure of a Flash Mink Leopard, an increasingly spirited Cannibal Dandelion, and a Meat Worm who was constantly listless.
About seven or eight days later, Flash Mink Leopard and Cannibal Small Qingpu had made their way from the outskirts to the mid-forest of Yanpo Forest. The local Dark Beasts had all heard of this fierce beast combo that slaughtered and devoured like chopping vegetables, so they were too scared to move.
"Awoo, I can’t take it anymore, I’m dying. If you two don’t find me something to eat, get ready to carry my dead body back to face Ugly Brutish," one moonlit night, a worm cried out in hunger and terror.
Confused, Little Shanshan and Little Qingpu looked at each other.
After a while, Little Qingpu gently patted the still plump body of Meat Worm, "Little Jin, you’re too picky. You only drink the midnight dew gathered on Snow Frost Leaves on nights with a full moon, and eat Spiritual-grade or higher Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass. We can’t find anything for you to eat."
"Who says I’m picky, I’ll sue whoever slanders me. Being able to eat into a form while being picky, that’s too insulting. I drink from Snow Frost Leaves to maintain my snowy white skin, have you ever seen a Divine Silkworm with spots? And also, who says I only eat Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Grass, that is a blatant defamation, I also eat Xuan Pills from Mid-level Dark Beasts," continued Gold Eater Worm, crying miserably.
Lines of frustration crossed the forehead of Flash Mink Leopard. Xuan Pills from Mid-level Dark Beasts? That damned worm, there were hardly any Mid-level Xuan Beasts in the whole of Yanpo Forest with Xuan Pills.
"So what do you suggest we do? Shall we go back to the city and let the master find you something to eat?" Cannibal Small Qingpu was troubled, knowing that their master was in seclusion and Qingpu had not been in the city these past few days either.
"Awoo, I said I’d be self-sufficient, I can’t let Ugly Brutish look down on me," as it was speaking, the chrysanthemum birthmark on the Gold-eating Worm’s body suddenly lit up, and it moved towards the depths of Yanpo Forest, "Do you not consider me a partner?"
"The master said, creatures must love each other," Little Qingpu said loyally, waving its leaves.
"Awoo, that’s so loving. Just now, a fragrance wafted over from the forest ahead, and I swear on my noble bloodline, there must be Spirit Grass or Spirit Fruit on the verge of ripening," the Gold-eating Worm found it strange too, it was naturally endowed with the ability to hunt treasures, and was very sensitive to Spiritual Treasures and Spirit Grass.
But even when it was crawling around the outskirts of Yanpo Forest earlier, it hadn’t sensed the presence of Spiritual Treasures. How come tonight, with the moon just rising, it smelled the fragrance of Spirit Grass.
"But Pu said that we are only allowed to go in and out of the outer and at most middle areas of Yanpo Forest. We must never plunge into the deep parts of the forest," Little Qingpu shook its leaves, disapproving of the Gold-eating Worm’s suggestion.
The depths of Yanpo Forest are different from the outskirts and middle areas; this place, in the past, was where the Shang Country’s Palace used to breed Treasure Beasts and plant spirit wood and spirit grass.
Every year, the Monarch of Shang Kingdom would take a group of Imperial Relatives to hunt inside, and it is said that several formidable Mid-High-level Dark Beasts were bred there.
Before entering Yanpo Forest, Qing Pu reminded the three Dark Beasts under no circumstances to venture into the depths of the forest.
"Stupid, with ugly and Gao Kuqiang, one in seclusion and the other’s whereabouts unknown, as long as we don’t tell, who would know. I’m telling you, inside there could very likely be High-level Spirit Grass that can increase Cultivation. Just let us nibble a little bit, and when ugly comes out of seclusion, he will surely be overjoyed. With his mercenary temperament, who would remember to reprimand us," the Gold Eater Worm continued to tempt them. Although it was merely a Meat Worm, it had spent a thousand years in the egg, and its Spiritual Sense was much smarter than that of the simple Little Qingpu and Flash Mink Leopard.
The result of the persistent instigation was that both Little Shanshan and Little Qing couldn’t restrain themselves and followed into the forest.
After a worm, a leopard, and a plant entered the deep parts of the forest, they soon discovered the differences from the outside world.
The outer region of Yanpo Forest was not much different from the usual broad-leaved forests in the south; most Dark Beasts here were Second and Third Rank Dark Beasts. Going further inside, they discovered that the Dark Rank of the Dark Beasts in this area had clearly increased.
Furthermore, higher the Grade of the Dark Beasts, the stronger their Domain consciousness was. If a Dark Beast not of their kind passed through, they would provoke at a minimum, or engage in fierce combat—and the Flash Mink Leopard’s sins were especially conspicuous.
The Meat Worm had no Grade, and its Dark Energy was weak. Cannibal Small Qingpu was good at Concealing its presence; in contrast, the unique aura of the Flash Mink Leopard, a variant Dark Beast, attracted numerous attacks along the way.
Fortunately, these Dark Beasts weren’t strongly cultivated, but...
"Roar," a purple lightning tore open a Fifth-level Sword Spine Wolf’s chest struck by the Flash Mink Leopard, blood dripped down, and the chest was hollow, with no Dark Pill.
"Something is not quite right," the Flash Mink Leopard attempted to communicate with Cannibal Small Qingpu, "All of them are without Dark Pills, and their Cultivation is very weak." Along the way, they had already encountered five or six Dark Beasts. Although they were all Fourth and Fifth Rank Dark Beasts, their Cultivation was obviously weaker than Little Shanshan’s. These Dark Beasts were apparently so overfed. And for Mid-level Dark Beasts, the chance of forming Dark Pills should have significantly increased, but none of these beasts had one.
One being an anomaly could be considered coincidental, but so many Dark Beasts seemed very suspicious.
"Awoo awoo, stop guessing wildly, Little Shanshan, speed up! I’ve already smelled the scent of Spirit Grass," the Meat Worm wished it had grown four legs to scurry happily ahead.