Chapter 146 – Devouring
It was indeed a charge—
as though something deep within the land was calling to them.
Two Gravity Ant Kings hurtled forward, one behind the other, straight toward Hu Liena's group, reckless and unstoppable.
They would reach them any moment now.
"Courting death? Then allow me to grant it," Chrysanthemum Douluo said coldly.
Only a few kilometers separated them. Normally he would have ignored such pests, but they had drawn too close for comfort.
Hu Liena, Yan, Xie Yue, and the five accompanying Spirit Saints immediately responded.
Gravity Ants were simple creatures, their combat skills singular. Against Chrysanthemum Douluo, they posed no threat at all.
The eight soul masters remained relaxed, still caught up in the excitement of Hu Liena's newly gained external spirit bone.
"Liena, when the Pope hears of this, she'll shower you with rewards!" Yan said eagerly.
Even Xie Yue's eyes curved into a satisfied smile.
With an external spirit bone, his sister might now fight opponents much stronger than herself.
The five Spirit Saints, too, were overjoyed—after successfully protecting her and gaining the Pope's favor, they expected generous rewards upon their return.
But at the peak of their happiness, disaster arrived—the joy before the fall.
Exactly like before with Tang San: even if Hu Liena was now a Spirit King, against a Spirit Saint like Old Scorpion, she had no power to resist.
Suddenly, her body began sinking—downward, toward the earth.
"Who's there?!"
"No!"
"How dare—!"
The Spirit Saints reacted instantly, surging toward the center in an attempt to pull her free.
But how could their speed match Old Scorpion's, who had planned this moment for days?
The reckless charge of the two Ant Kings had been caused precisely because the scent of countless poisoned ant queens beneath the surface had lured them.
Now, as those frenzied beasts stormed above, Old Scorpion's trap was ready.
The moment Dugu Feng sensed through the pearl that Chrysanthemum Douluo had departed, he commanded the strike.
Old Scorpion's earth-based escape skill activated; in a heartbeat, his hand snatched Hu Liena below.
She vanished instantly into the ground.
Xie Yue, Yan, and the five Spirit Saints all froze.
"What just happened?!"
Even Chrysanthemum Douluo, far away battling the Ant King, felt the sudden change.
As he unleashed his power, he sensed Hu Liena's aura flickering.
"Not good—it's a diversion!" he snarled.
He focused his spiritual sense, following her trail deep underground.
Her energy signature was sinking fast. The layers of earth muffled everything; her aura was fading, nearly erased.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression hardened.
"So fast. Do you think you can escape me?"
He turned sharply and sped back toward the site.
"Golden Petal Flowing Radiance—fall back!"
A massive flower bud formed around him, its petals swirling as his sixth spirit ring blazed.
The petals broke away, transforming into meteoric blossoms descending like fiery streaks.
Each one shrank rapidly midair before smashing precisely into the ground where Hu Liena had disappeared.
Booming thunder echoed through the forest.
Hundreds of meters of soil blasted away until what remained was a vast hollow space—a tunnel network, twisting like a labyrinth.
Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned.
He sent his spiritual energy into the maze, probing every passage—each led to solid earth.
Yet somehow, Hu Liena continued sinking even deeper.
The elder could only faintly detect her pulse now—the interference of the land was too great.
He invoked his Martial Soul True Body, expanding his spiritual consciousness, but it still wasn't enough.
"Earth tunneling skill… and pre-built tunnels beneath the Three-Eyed Demon Fox's domain!
So this was planned—was someone targeting Hu Liena specifically? Or mere coincidence?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo couldn't make sense of it.
Their selection of this fox had been decided only today.
How could anyone have anticipated their arrival—and prepared a trap here?
If coincidence, then it was a miraculous one—the abductors had struck perfectly the moment he left to confront the Ant King.
His gaze turned icy. Rage flared in his chest.
He refused to give up—his spiritual search intensified.
Above, petals continued crashing down, boring deeper into the earth.
"Earth-based techniques have limits!" he muttered. "Even you can't tunnel infinitely. You built those routes ahead of time, didn't you?
Sooner or later, I'll reach you. Let's see just how deep you've gone."
A vicious light kindled in his eyes.
Extending his spirit power downward, he began forcing the earth apart, punching through with endless energy.
If the fleeing soul master remained near the upper layers, Chrysanthemum Douluo's spiritual detection would have found him by now.
Since it hadn't… the enemy must be far below.
Even a Titled Douluo would struggle to endure such crushing pressure underground—especially while carrying Hu Liena.
He would find them.
Glancing toward the nearby Ant Kings, his wrath sharpened.
"This is your doing," he hissed.
With a violent motion, he charged straight at them, detonating waves of power through the forest.
The entire ten-thousand-year zone trembled.
Deep beneath the surface—
Inside a winding subterranean cavern, Old Scorpion and the unconscious Hu Liena reappeared.
She was poisoned, limp and silent—a precaution. He couldn't afford any sound or risk of exposure.
"Young Master, we must act fast," Old Scorpion whispered hoarsely. "We have only moments. Chrysanthemum Douluo's still chasing."
His voice carried fatigue and awe—they had drilled far below the limit of his tunneling skill, then carved this chamber by hand.
Even as a Spirit Saint, the earth's crushing weight prevented him from going any deeper.
Dugu Feng nodded, wasting no time.
His aura flared as he activated Martial Soul Possession.
A swell rose on his back—eight spider legs unfurling into existence.
This time, he wouldn't use the scorpion claws for absorption.
He would use the Eight Spider Lances.
"Little fox," he said coldly, "don't blame me. You have treasure but no wit—holding a gem you can't wield is a sin in itself.
Since you waste it, I'll take it for proper use."
A cruel smile twisted his lips.
The lowest pair of spider legs stabbed forward, piercing into Hu Liena's lower back near her tailbone.
Twin currents of devouring energy poured forth, sweeping along her spine in search of the target.
Moments later, he felt it—a burning energy resting at the base of her spine, distinct and separate, not yet merged with her body.
"That's it," he murmured. "Devour!"
Rings of violet-red light pulsed along the Spider Lances.
The fiery energy traveled upward through the legs, funneling into Dugu Feng's back.
Compared to his last attempt, this process was seamless—his prior experience made it simple.
The stolen power sank swiftly into his tailbone, merging with his skeleton.
His bones seemed to hum with hunger, vibrating with eagerness—
as though they couldn't wait to claim the fox-tail's energy entirely.
(END CHAPTER)
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