Scent

"Steward He, just tell me the specific situation in detail."

Li Gan glanced at Steward He and spoke immediately.

"Master Li, I haven't even held a welcome banquet for you yet—"

Steward He said hurriedly.

"No need. The sooner we solve the problem, the sooner the mine can resume operations."

Li Gan waved his hand.

"Yes, yes, of course. Master Li, please come inside. I will inform you of all the details."

Steward He said.

Naturally, he wanted to resolve the threat of the earth dragon exotic insect as soon as possible.

It was just that he hadn't been able to gauge this innate expert from the Divine Sword Sect, so he had intended to treat him well first.

He hadn't expected this innate expert to be even more impatient than he was.

Naturally, he was very pleased in his heart.

After entering the room, Steward He took out a newly produced map and began to explain the sightings of the earth dragon exotic insect.

"Master Li, look. These red marks are the places where the earth dragon exotic insect has devoured miners. These yellow marks are where it has appeared and left traces, and these black marks are where it is suspected to have left traces."

He spoke in great detail.

Li Gan listened very carefully and did not interrupt.

By the time Steward He finished, he basically had a clear idea of the situation.

Furthermore, he had forcibly memorized the entire map.

To prevent any omissions, he even recalled it in his mind several times.

"Junior Brother Ling, some of your people must have had direct contact with this earth dragon exotic insect. Do you have any thoughts to add?"

Li Gan looked at Ling Xingfeng, who had been silent the whole time, and asked suddenly.

"Senior Brother Li, this earth dragon exotic insect is adept at burrowing. It has dug a massive number of tunnels throughout the mine, dense like a spider web, which allows it to come and go as it pleases. Moreover, it is extremely vigilant. Since it first appeared, I have only seen it once, and never again after that. It seems to possess a special sensory ability to judge threats, and it knows that I pose a danger to it. If Senior Brother Li wants to kill this earth dragon exotic insect, I fear there will only be one chance."

Ling Xingfeng thought for a moment before speaking.

"Senior Brother Li, I can smell that the earth dragon exotic insect releases a very peculiar odor."

An inner disciple of the Divine Sword Sect nearby couldn't help but interject.

"Oh, I don't know how to address you, Junior Brother?"

Li Gan looked at the inner disciple and asked with a smile.

"Senior Brother Li, I am Zhang Liao, a named disciple of Guiyi Peak."

The inner disciple spoke hurriedly.

"Junior Brother Zhang, how did you determine that the scent you smelled was that of an earth dragon exotic insect?"

Li Gan nodded and then asked.

"Wherever that earth dragon exotic insect has been, that strange scent appears. I asked Senior Brother Ling and the others, but they all said they couldn't smell it, so I didn't know if the scent I smelled was real."

Zhang Liao hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Since he was a child, his nose had been extremely sensitive to various scents, allowing him to distinguish different smells even when they were mixed together.

"How about this, Junior Brother Zhang, come into the mine with me."

Li Gan thought for a moment before saying.

He then turned to Steward He and said, "Steward He, prepare a few miners to come into the mine with me."

He needed the miners to lure the earth dragon exotic insect out.

Zhang Liao's role was to identify the areas where the earth dragon exotic insect might appear by tracking the scent.

"Master Li, I guarantee it will be arranged immediately."

Steward He said quickly.

"Senior Brother Li, what about us?"

Ling Xingfeng asked.

"You all stay outside the mine."

Li Gan said.

"Uh, alright."

Ling Xingfeng nodded.

It was already the time of the sheep in the afternoon.

The weather was not great.

It was a bit muggy.

At the entrance of a mine shaft, Li Gan led Zhang Liao and three miners inside.

The three miners performed quite well, showing no signs of excessive fear.

Those who dared to enter the mines had long since prepared themselves mentally.

Or perhaps, Steward He had already satiated them with silver.

The mine shaft was quite spacious, supported by thick logs to prevent collapse.

Special drainage measures had also been implemented.

Li Gan, however, furrowed his brows slightly.

If this mine were to collapse, it would be troublesome.

Although he was a xiantian martial artist, he could not withstand a collapsing mine.

Even a seemingly simple task carried certain risks.

Risks like a mine collapse might not necessarily be encountered, but if one truly occurred, one could only pray for good fortune.

Fortunately, he had memorized the map of the entire mining area.

This map was very comprehensive, clearly detailing even the latest mine shaft routes.

With this, it was impossible for him to get lost.

Even if a collapse were to occur, he would be able to dash to the nearest exit immediately.

"Has this mine of yours ever collapsed before?"

Li Gan asked suddenly.

"My lord, it has."

One of the miners replied hurriedly.

It had indeed collapsed before.

This added a layer of caution to his heart.

"Junior Brother Zhang, can you smell that scent?"

Li Gan forced himself to cast aside his inner worries and looked at Zhang Liao.

"I cannot."

Zhang Liao shook his head.

"If you smell anything, tell me immediately."

Li Gan said.

"Understood, Senior Brother Li."

Zhang Liao nodded.

The five of them moved forward through the mine tunnel. It was quiet the entire way, with only the sound of their breathing and footsteps.

Li Gan had already suppressed his own aura.

Since that earth dragon exotic insect might have special sensory abilities, the best approach was to avoid being detected, or to pass himself off as an ordinary miner.

They walked through the mine for a full half hour.

Suddenly, Zhang Liao stopped, closed his eyes, and sniffed with his nose.

"Senior Brother Li, I... I think I smell that scent."

"The scent?"

Li Gan tried hard to smell it as well, but apart from the complex odors unique to the mine, there was nothing else unusual.

"Yes, it's the same scent I mentioned before."

Zhang Liao said hurriedly.

"Then try to track it."

Li Gan said.

He did not mobilize his spiritual perception.

After comprehending sword intent, one forms a special spiritual perception, allowing them to sense traces and auras that ordinary people cannot see with the naked eye.

He was worried that his spiritual perception would alert the earth dragon exotic insect.

"Mm."

Zhang Liao nodded and began to walk while sniffing the air.

At first, he walked quite slowly, but as the scent became clearer to him, he began to walk faster and faster.

Li Gan had the three miners follow closely behind him.

Although he intended to use the three miners to lure out the earth dragon exotic insect, he would still do his best to ensure their personal safety.

Just like that, they walked for nearly another half hour.

Zhang Liao stopped once again, circled the area a few times, and said to Li Gan with a tone of certainty, "Senior Brother Li, the scent is strongest in this area. If it really is an earth dragon exotic insect, it must have been active here very recently."

Li Gan nodded and first instructed Zhang Liao to follow the map and leave via the nearest mine exit.

Otherwise, if Zhang Liao stayed behind, it might deter the earth dragon exotic insect from appearing.

Thus, only Li Gan and the three miners remained at the scene.

The area fell into a deep silence.

There was only the sound of heavy breathing.

It came from the three miners, revealing the nervousness in their hearts.

Li Gan stood where he was, arms crossed over his sword, his eyes closed.

He focused his mind and calmed his spirit. Although he did not project his spiritual perception outward, he was able to listen to every movement in the surroundings using his hearing.

He did not know how much time had passed.

Suddenly, Li Gan vaguely sensed movement coming from beneath the ground.

It felt as if a snake were slithering rapidly toward them.