Chapter 145 – The Fox Tail
Dugu Feng speculated quietly to himself.
Next, Chrysanthemum Douluo would certainly display his Titled Douluo strength to hunt a proper beast for Hu Liena.
He and Old Scorpion had to stay hidden, avoiding the elder's spiritual perception at all costs.
Through the sensory link with the pearl inside Yan's body, Dugu Feng marveled.
This was far easier than tracking Tang San had been.
Back then, he'd needed the Emerald Serpent Dragons to trail carefully in the shadows.
Now that he had advanced to Spirit Ancestor, his mental power had surged exponentially. He could clearly gauge distance and overhear their words merely through the pearl.
Too easy.
Hu Liena's group pressed deeper into the forest, moving cautiously.
Chrysanthemum Douluo disappeared several times to survey the area, leading them through the ten-thousand- to twenty-thousand-year regions instead of directly charging inward.
Dugu Feng waited patiently.
Two hours later, his senses stirred—they had reached the territory of a thirteen-thousand-year-old Three-Eyed Demon Fox.
It seemed Hu Liena had made her choice.
Moments later, her group stopped within that domain.
Dugu Feng detected Hu Liena's spirit power flaring rapidly.
It was about to begin.
"Old Scorpion, target confirmed—their prey is that thirteen-thousand-year Three-Eyed Demon Fox. Be on standby."
"Yes, Young Master!"
Old Scorpion's voice trembled with excitement, assuming their information came from the Emerald Serpents' surveillance, unaware that the pearl had already placed everything under Dugu Feng's control.
The Three-Eyed Demon Fox was a sleek, violet-black creature.
Dugu Feng recalled that Xiao Wu's seventh ring had also come from such a beast—providing her with a skull bone.
These foxes were excellent sources of spirit bones.
But this time, the bone would belong to him.
In the fox's lair, the violet beast fell quickly under a single strike from Chrysanthemum Douluo.
Hu Liena approached, elation shining in her eyes.
From her spatial device, she drew a short blade and, with one clean motion, ended the wounded fox's life.
A surge of dark-purple energy burst free.
Unable to restrain her excitement, Hu Liena sat cross-legged and began absorbing it at once.
Chrysanthemum Douluo stood close by, watching intently.
A thirteen-thousand-year ring posed no real threat for someone of her capacity, though it was the peak limit for a fifth ring. Still, precautions were mandatory—the Star Dou Great Forest allowed no carelessness.
He divided his spiritual awareness, half monitoring Hu Liena's aura, half sweeping their surroundings.
Yan and Xie Yue stood guard to either side, while the five Spirit Saints formed an outer circle, spreading evenly to guard from all angles.
Everything was ready.
Hu Liena's eyes began to glow pink, her hair turning a vivid crimson.
Energy pulsed outward from her body in a radiant crimson mist.
Although this wasn't a cross-rank absorption, it was still at the upper limit for her level.
The mist churned with turbulent fluctuations as her aura grew stronger—a visible storm of power surrounding her form.
Four rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple—rose and fell rhythmically; above them, a faint black projection gradually took shape.
Chrysanthemum Douluo exhaled in relief.
The most critical moment had passed; now came the simple process of conversion.
"Liena's succeeded!" Yan exclaimed joyfully.
"Expected," Xie Yue said calmly, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
An hour slipped by.
The pink mist dissipated, revealing Hu Liena radiating power. Her five spirit rings gleamed brilliantly—she had become a Spirit King.
Then Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned.
"Two Gravity Ant Kings? Heading this way?"
He sensed again—their energy approaching from several miles off.
Unbothered, he dismissed it.
Hu Liena had just finished her absorption, and they would soon depart.
No need for unnecessary trouble.
But before Hu Liena could rise, a sharp cry escaped her lips. Her body convulsed violently, facial features twisting with pain.
"Liena!"
"What's wrong?!"
Panic flashed through the group. She had clearly finished the absorption—how could something go wrong now?
Yet as swiftly as the agony came, it faded.
Her expression returned to normal.
Just when everyone thought the crisis was over, a sudden phenomenon occurred.
Behind her—just above her lower back—a fiery red tail unfurled into existence.
At first it was small, a tiny wisp of fur, but in seconds it expanded—thickening until it matched a human torso in girth and stretched over three meters long.
The tail gleamed, crimson and smooth, ending in a pointed, razor-sharp tip.
Straight and rigid, it jabbed into the air behind her like an enormous, living mace.
The sight left everyone frozen.
A new ability?
Impossible—her earlier scream proved otherwise.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes widened, realization striking him like lightning.
An external spirit bone!
As a high-ranking elder of the Spirit Hall, he immediately recognized the rarity before him.
A miracle granted by fate—less than one in ten thousand could ever receive one.
A spark of greed flickered briefly in his gaze.
Even as a Titled Douluo, he had never possessed a single spirit bone.
And here Hu Liena, with merely her fifth ring, had gained an external one. And with the upcoming tournament's champion prize, she would earn another top-tier bone yet.
Jealousy squeezed at his heart—but only for an instant.
This was Hu Liena, Bibi Dong's cherished daughter-in-all-but-name.
Anyone else, and Chrysanthemum Douluo would have taken it for himself then and there.
"Hu Liena," he said coldly, "retract it—quickly!"
Another pulse of his perception confirmed it: one of the approaching Gravity Ant Kings was now within range—and stronger than the first, at least forty thousand years.
Both were moving directly toward the Three-Eyed Demon Fox's territory.
Perhaps drawn by the fading fox aura, seeking to claim the empty domain.
He prepared to move; he couldn't let them get close.
Meanwhile, Hu Liena, still dazed, trembled before realizing what had happened.
External spirit bone!
The words screamed within her heart, her excitement overwhelming.
She finally understood Chrysanthemum Douluo's warning. Such a treasure had to be hidden immediately. One slip, and news would spread like wildfire.
Gathering her spirit power, she directed it down her spine—flowing into her tailbone, where the new bone connected.
Energy rippled once, and the great fox tail shimmered, shrinking rapidly until it vanished completely into her body.
Hu Liena stood gracefully. Newly advanced, her aura carried a subtle charm that intoxicated those around her.
She met the eyes of Yan and Xie Yue—each filled with awe and joy.
They both knew what that tail symbolized, sharing genuine happiness for her.
Turning toward Chrysanthemum Douluo, she was surprised to see his expression darken.
"Stay here," he ordered. "Two Gravity Ant Kings are charging straight toward us. Let's see if they know what death means."
(END CHAPTER)
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