Dragon Mantis

While Dragon Duke Meng Shu and his group occupied the nest, Chen Chu had already run more than two miles away.

Standing atop an ancient tree, Chen Chu could vaguely see the sun rising in the east. The mist in the forest had begun to slowly disperse, though the woods remained dim and damp.

After finding a stream and quickly washing up, he took out the map he had brought and headed toward the area where Dragon Mantises were most active.

Dragon Mantises were carnivorous soul beasts. They had no obvious natural predators in Beast Canyon and usually dwelled in bushes near bodies of water.

Even so, their numbers were extremely small. Not only did they have the habit of consuming their own kind after mating, but their unique bloodline also made reproduction exceptionally difficult.

Chen Chu hurried toward the nearest body of water. He was already prepared for a long search. Those creatures were fast, skilled at concealment, and incredibly difficult to track. He needed to be ready for a war of endurance.

Chen Chu stepped over the slippery pebbles along the stream, crumpling the map in his hand slightly.

Following the markings on the map, he made his way along the riverbank. The bushes near the waters where Dragon Mantises lived were dense, making travel difficult and visibility poor. Dew from the previous night still hung from the branches. After walking only a short while, Chen Chu was nearly soaked through.

He slowed his steps as his Martial Soul quietly possessed him. Pale red Soul Power flowed through his eyes, increasing the clarity of his vision in the dim surroundings severalfold.

According to the information he had gathered earlier, Dragon Mantises had a distinct metallic sheen on their forelimbs that reflected faint light in the forest. That was the most direct clue for finding them. Yet after passing three tributaries in a row, he had found only a few startled gray sparrows and some other small creatures in the bushes. He had not even seen the shadow of a mantis.

"No wonder they say they're so rare," Chen Chu muttered. Looking down at the "Crescent Bay" marked on the map, he saw that it was the most winding stretch of water in the area. Its bushes were far denser than elsewhere, making it the likeliest place for Dragon Mantises to appear.

Just as he was about to jump out of the bushes, he suddenly caught a flash of dark green in the low trees ahead—a color that did not belong to the vegetation and looked remarkably like the base color of a Dragon Mantis's wings.

He immediately crouched down and hid himself in the dense bushes again, reining in his Soul Power until not a trace remained.

Sagros's enhancement not only allowed him to clearly distinguish his surroundings, but also concealed him exceptionally well. After carefully observing for a while, Chen Chu frowned slightly as he noticed something was wrong. The sounds ahead were not merely the usual movements of soul beasts. There were also deliberately softened footsteps and the sharp clink of metal objects colliding.

Could it be something other than a Dragon Mantis?

Curious, Chen Chu held his breath and continued peering ahead through the gaps in the bushes.

Three human figures were walking along the stream. The old man in front wore a blue-gray robe, with white hair and beard. Leaning on a cane inlaid with jade, he was none other than Dragon Duke Meng Shu, who had occupied the nest in the cave not long ago.

The elderly woman beside him also carried a cane. Her Soul Power fluctuations were steady, and she was Snake Dowager Zhao Tianxiang.

The slender girl at the back was their granddaughter, Meng Yiran. She was pouting as she kicked little stones by the roadside with the tip of her shoe, seemingly impatient with this journey.

"Grandfather, we've been walking for almost a whole day, and we haven't even seen the shadow of a soul beast. Is that Azure Blade Dragon Snake really nearby?" Meng Yiran complained, breaking the silence of the forest.

Dragon Duke stopped walking, tapping his cane against the ground as his gaze swept across the surrounding bushes. "The map can't be wrong, and neither can this old man's memory. Azure Blade Dragon Snakes have unusual habits. They only nest in bushes near water.

"They're fast and skilled at hiding. We need to calm down and search carefully."

As he spoke, his Soul Power unconsciously spread outward, forming a faint pressure as it continuously sensed the surroundings.

Feeling that trace of aura, Chen Chu's heart sank slightly. Dragon Duke's Soul Power Level was at least above eighty. A soul master of that strength had a sensing range far beyond that of ordinary soul masters.

He did not dare make the slightest movement, slowing even his breathing to an extreme. Sagros's concealment trait was pushed to its limit, and his entire body seemed to merge with the surrounding bushes.

Snake Dowager Zhao Tianxiang crouched down, brushing her fingertips over the mud beside the stream before pointing at a leaf. "Old man, look here."

Dragon Duke and Meng Yiran immediately leaned closer. A long, narrow mark lay across the broad leaf, with a trace of poisonous aura still clinging to its edge. "It was left by Azure Blade Dragon Snakes fighting." A sharp glint flashed in Dragon Duke's eyes. "This poison mark is fresh. That means they aren't far from here."

Meng Yiran instantly perked up. Clutching the staff in her hand, she urged, "Grandfather, then let's hurry and find them! This place is stuffy and damp. My clothes haven't dried once since we got here. It's awful!"

"Yiran, stop fooling around. We can't be careless about this." Snake Dowager frowned. "Azure Blade Dragon Snakes are incredibly fast and excel at surprise attacks. Most importantly, they like to move in groups. You're still young—you can't withstand their poison."

As she spoke, she poured Soul Power into the cane in her hand. Several pale blue Soul Power serpents crawled out from it and silently coiled around the surrounding branches, forming a concealed sensory net.

Hidden in the darkness, Chen Chu watched everything. Snake Dowager's Snake Staff Martial Soul could not only attack and restrain, but also sense the surrounding Soul Power fluctuations through those transformed snakes. If even the slightest bit of his Soul Power leaked out, he would be discovered immediately.

He could only remain still while calculating in his heart. Dragon Duke's group was clearly here to hunt soul beasts as well. With their strength, if they truly encountered a Dragon Mantis, he would have no chance of stepping forward to fight for it.

For now, he could only follow behind them and see if he could find an opportunity. Or perhaps, after they left, he could search for a straggler himself.

Dragon Duke seemed to sense something. He suddenly raised his head and looked toward where Chen Chu was hiding, his brows furrowing slightly.

Chen Chu's heart leaped into his throat. His mind was intensely focused as he prepared himself for any sudden development.

"What is it, old man?" Snake Dowager noticed her husband's unusual behavior and asked.

Dragon Duke narrowed his eyes and swept his gaze over the dense bushes around them. After a pause, he shook his head. "Nothing. Maybe it was just my imagination."

His Soul Power senses had indeed caught a faint trace of an aura, but it vanished in an instant. It might have come from a soul beast, making it impossible for him to determine whether there was truly someone nearby. Still, he strengthened his senses.

"Keep looking. Don't waste time. It'll be dark soon."

Snake Dowager nodded and withdrew some of the Spirit Snakes, leaving only a few ahead to maintain their senses. The three continued forward along the stream, their footsteps growing lighter as the two elders cautiously scanned the bushes on both sides.

Only after they had gone some distance did Chen Chu slowly let out a breath. Then he realized his back was already drenched in cold sweat.

That glance from Dragon Duke had allowed him to truly feel the pressure of a Soul Douluo. He still could not contend with someone of that level. He could not afford to underestimate them.