"Hmm?"
Just as Lin Chu was about to fly out of the water to temporarily avoid the three Nine-Section Earthworms, he suddenly sensed that the three Nine-Section Earthworms that had been chasing him stopped. Then, they frantically retreated backward.
"This is... could it be..." Seeing the three Nine-Section Earthworms suddenly change direction and flee backward, Lin Chu also stopped. A thought flashed through his mind, and his face immediately lit up with joy.
According to Elder Yang Yun, these Nine-Section Earthworms were food for the Five-Spotted Dragonfish. In this Quicksand River, the only thing that could make the Nine-Section Earthworms fearful was likely the Five-Spotted Dragonfish. Now that the three Nine-Section Earthworms had fled, it clearly meant a Five-Spotted Dragonfish had appeared ahead!
"I hope it's that advanced Five-Spotted Dragonfish." Without the pursuit of the Nine-Section Earthworms, Lin Chu naturally felt relieved. Then, with a thought, he moved rapidly forward.
"There's indeed spiritual energy fluctuation!" After swimming for about ten minutes, Lin Chu finally sensed a spiritual energy fluctuation ahead. He slowed down and approached cautiously.
At the same time, Elder Yang Yun, positioned at a high vantage point above the Quicksand River, revealed a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. "I didn't expect this Lin Chu to escape the pursuit of the Nine-Section Earthworms under such circumstances. It's a pity, though. This Five-Spotted Dragonfish is not the advanced one."
"Is this a Five-Spotted Dragonfish?" Lin Chu looked at a fish swimming freely not far away, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
The fish was about three meters long, with five-colored light flashing all over its body. On its head, there were two long tendrils.
While Lin Chu was observing, the Five-Spotted Dragonfish's two long tendrils merely touched the sandy bottom of the river, and a Nine-Section Earthworm, over a meter long, was sucked out. It was then swallowed by the Five-Spotted Dragonfish in one gulp.
"As expected, one thing overcomes another." Seeing this, Lin Chu couldn't help but sigh at the wonders of the world. The Nine-Section Earthworms that had forced him to flee everywhere seemed like mice encountering a cat in front of the Five-Spotted Dragonfish.
After observing, Lin Chu finally confirmed that the Five-Spotted Dragonfish before him was not the one he was looking for, the one about to advance. However, Lin Chu had no intention of letting this Five-Spotted Dragonfish go. After all, the suppression of the Nine-Section Earthworms by the Five-Spotted Dragonfish was a perfect countermeasure.
As long as he captured this Five-Spotted Dragonfish, he wouldn't have to worry about encountering Nine-Section Earthworms and having to detour in his subsequent search.
With this thought, Lin Chu circulated the spiritual energy within his body. The spiritual energy intertwined, appearing and disappearing under the cover of the river water. Finally, the spiritual energy condensed into a large net, which slowly approached the Five-Spotted Dragonfish under Lin Chu's control.
At this moment, the Five-Spotted Dragonfish seemed to be still digesting the Nine-Section Earthworm it had just swallowed, completely unaware of the large net stealthily approaching from behind.
Lin Chu's mind was exceptionally focused, controlling the spiritual energy net inch by inch. When the spiritual energy net was less than a meter away from the Five-Spotted Dragonfish, Lin Chu stopped.
"Now, it's time to capture it!"
Lin Chu smiled slightly and clenched his fist. The spiritual energy net, which had approached the Five-Spotted Dragonfish, immediately enveloped it rapidly.
The Five-Spotted Dragonfish naturally sensed the danger and struggled violently. Lin Chu would not give it a chance to escape. His figure moved, and the spiritual energy within his body circulated again. He struck the Five-Spotted Dragonfish, entangled by the spiritual energy net, with a palm.
Seeing the Five-Spotted Dragonfish's movements gradually subsiding, a smile appeared on Lin Chu's face. The Five-Spotted Dragonfish was finally his!
Looking at the Five-Spotted Dragonfish, which had been stunned by his palm, Lin Chu's heart stirred. The spiritual energy net entangled around the Five-Spotted Dragonfish instantly transformed into a long spiritual rope, binding it to the fish's tail. Then, he pulled the Five-Spotted Dragonfish and continued to move forward.
Lin Chu believed that since he had encountered a Five-Spotted Dragonfish here, there must be more ahead. Perhaps even the advanced Five-Spotted Dragonfish was just up ahead.
"This Lin Chu kid is quite clever." Elder Yang Yun couldn't help but smile as he watched Lin Chu secure the Five-Spotted Dragonfish. With this Five-Spotted Dragonfish, the presence of the Nine-Section Earthworms was no longer a concern.
In the subsequent search, he could proceed as he pleased.
Indeed!
As the Five-Spotted Dragonfish gradually woke up, Lin Chu, pulling it along, continued to move forward. Occasionally, he sensed the presence of Nine-Section Earthworms but paid them no mind. Instead, the Nine-Section Earthworms, upon sensing the Five-Spotted Dragonfish's aura, immediately fled.
During this time, the Five-Spotted Dragonfish attempted to break free from the binding on its tail, but Lin Chu's spiritual energy was immensely powerful. No matter how it thrashed, it couldn't dissipate. In the end, the Five-Spotted Dragonfish had to give up and swam rapidly in front of Lin Chu.
In this manner, another month passed. During this month, Lin Chu, using the same method, captured two more Five-Spotted Dragonfish.
Adding the original one, with three Five-Spotted Dragonfish pulling, Lin Chu no longer needed to use any spiritual energy. He was pulled forward by the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish.
Lin Chu's figure reappeared on the surface of the Quicksand River. In his hand, he firmly held three spiritual ropes formed by interwoven spiritual energy. Looking at the vast expanse of river water around him, Lin Chu scanned in all directions.
However, Lin Chu soon shook his head. The terrain of the Quicksand River had changed so much that he couldn't distinguish anything. The small spiritual脉 he had found before was no longer detectable.
Lin Chu knew that for the Five-Spotted Dragonfish to advance, it would have to go to the small spiritual脉 mentioned by Elder Yang Yun to absorb spiritual energy. As long as he could sense the location of that small spiritual脉, he would surely find the advanced Five-Spotted Dragonfish.
"I wonder if my direction is correct." Lin Chu sighed helplessly, then dived back down, controlling the Five-Spotted Dragonfish to continue forward. This time, Lin Chu significantly slowed down and utilized his senses to their utmost, clearly aiming to find that small spiritual脉.
At this moment, Elder Yang Yun, at the highest vantage point above the Quicksand River, slowly opened his eyes. A trace of bloodshot appeared within them.
Elder Yang Yun stood up and murmured, "After three months, it's finally about to appear? I wonder who, Lin Chu or Shi Wendong, will be the first to catch up. This is truly exciting."
On one side of the Quicksand River, the previously gently flowing water suddenly churned into a water column. As the water column rose, a Five-Spotted Dragonfish, over four meters long, leaped and swayed with the force of the water.
Beneath the water column, a surge of extremely pure spiritual energy continuously flowed into the Five-Spotted Dragonfish above through the water column.
Clearly, this Five-Spotted Dragonfish was the advanced Five-Spotted Dragonfish that Lin Chu and Shi Wendong had been searching for for three full months!
"Beep beep beep!"
Lin Chu, who was driving the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish forward, suddenly noticed that the three previously obedient Five-Spotted Dragonfish were now spitting bubbles. Not only that, but the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish suddenly changed direction and shot wildly towards the front right.
"What's going on?" Lin Chu was astonished by this turn of events.
At the same time, Shi Wendong, who was searching from another direction, had a similar experience with the Five-Spotted Dragonfish beneath him. If they were observed from high above, it would be evident that both Lin Chu and Shi Wendong were heading towards the same soaring water column.
Moments later, Lin Chu sensed through the spiritual rope tightly bound to the tails of the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish that they seemed to have developed an emotion. It was as if they had found a savior.
"Could it be that the advanced Five-Spotted Dragonfish is just ahead!" His mind raced, and Lin Chu instantly realized.
With this thought, Lin Chu immediately pulled the three rapidly swimming Five-Spotted Dragonfish. The spiritual energy in his hand condensed into a beam of light that plunged into the riverbed, firmly holding the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish. Then, Lin Chu quickly swam upward and instantly flew out of the water, floating on the surface.
As soon as he surfaced, Lin Chu looked in the direction the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish were swimming. Upon seeing it, he was overjoyed.
About three miles ahead, a soaring water column was particularly conspicuous. The Five-Spotted Dragonfish above the water column emanated waves of spiritual light. Streams of pure spiritual energy were entering the Five-Spotted Dragonfish's body from the water column.
It was clear that this Five-Spotted Dragonfish was undergoing advancement.
"No wonder they're so excited. They sensed your King. However, I've come for your King." With a thought, the beam of light and spiritual ropes restraining the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish in the Quicksand River instantly transformed into spiritual energy and merged into the river water.
With their restraints gone, the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish immediately swam away rapidly.
Lin Chu had no intention of capturing these three Five-Spotted Dragonfish. After all, he was after the Five-Spotted Dragonfish King. Moreover, according to Elder Yang Yun, the Five-Spotted Dragonfish in the Quicksand River were becoming increasingly scarce, and Lin Chu understood the principle of leaving some for the future.
Besides, if these three Five-Spotted Dragonfish hadn't suddenly changed direction, Lin Chu would have deviated from his original search route. Therefore, after discovering the advancing Five-Spotted Dragonfish, Lin Chu naturally released the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish.
Whoosh!
With a whistling sound, Lin Chu's figure shot forward rapidly. Although he was pulled by the three Five-Spotted Dragonfish swimming in the water, Lin Chu was quite satisfied with his own speed. Furthermore, his sensing ability in the water was halved, making it naturally inferior to his abilities outside the Quicksand River.
As he approached the water column, Lin Chu's figure moved, and he stopped about five hundred meters away from it. A surge of spiritual energy shot out, supporting him at his feet. Lin Chu knew that if he got any closer, he might be detected by this Five-Spotted Dragonfish.
If the Five-Spotted Dragonfish abandoned its advancement and fled, he would have come back empty-handed. After all, the efficacy of the Five-Spotted Dragonfish and the Five-Spotted Dragonfish King was vastly different.
Therefore, Lin Chu patiently waited for the Five-Spotted Dragonfish's advancement, supported by his spiritual energy.
Hmm?
After waiting for three minutes, Lin Chu's mind suddenly stirred. He glanced to his right and then smiled wryly, shaking his head.
"I didn't expect Shi Wendong to have arrived as well."
"Senior Brother Lin Chu, you're one step ahead." Shi Wendong, who had arrived rapidly, also spotted Lin Chu. He glided to Lin Chu's side, bowed slightly, and said.
"Junior Brother Wendong's speed is not slow either. You appeared as soon as I arrived," Lin Chu nodded in acknowledgment.
Shi Wendong's body flickered with spiritual light, but he consciously suppressed it, clearly worried that excessive spiritual energy might alert the Five-Spotted Dragonfish.
"Senior Brother Lin Chu, this Five-Spotted Dragonfish is still in the process of advancing. Should we discuss how to distribute this opportunity?" Shi Wendong looked at Lin Chu and said slowly.
Lin Chu smiled and nodded with interest, then asked, "What do you think, Junior Brother Wendong, would be a suitable distribution?"
Shi Wendong pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "Senior Brother Lin Chu, although you found this Five-Spotted Dragonfish first, it has not yet successfully advanced. This trip is not an intentional challenge from me.
"Furthermore, Senior Brother Lin Chu has extremely high prestige among ordinary disciples, and his strength is naturally immense. If Senior Brother Lin Chu can defeat me, I will concede this opportunity."
Lin Chu looked at Shi Wendong with a slight surprise. Among the ordinary disciples of the sect, Shi Wendong had given Lin Chu an impression of being somewhat mysterious. Now that he could say such words, it was clear he wanted to compete with him. And he must have some reliance.
However, Lin Chu also had strong confidence in his own strength. Since Shi Wendong had proposed the suggestion of the winner taking all, it suited his intentions perfectly.
"Since Junior Brother Wendong has proposed the suggestion of the winner taking all, let's proceed as you suggested. However, shouldn't we wait until this Five-Spotted Dragonfish successfully advances before we begin?" Lin Chu nodded and said.
"Agreed." Shi Wendong nodded, then shifted his gaze to the Five-Spotted Dragonfish above the water column, a strong light surging in his eyes.
"Shi Wendong's suggestion is not bad. It seems Shi Wendong has some reservations about being in the second position," Elder Yang Yun, at the high vantage point, clearly learned that Shi Wendong and Lin Chu had decided to settle it by combat.
He then stood up, his eyes flashing, and his divine sense spread out once more.