Hou Niao watched the land from afar, feeling little guilt. Even if he had let him stay here, the outcome would have been the same.
The Earth Spirit Pearl was a little too far above their level.
So his purpose in coming here was not necessarily to find the Earth Spirit Pearl. If the pearl was still on the little Winged boy's forehead, even someone as hard and cold as him would probably find it difficult to face the child calmly.
He only needed to burrow underground and sense the earth element power here. From a distance, he would take only his own share, coming quietly and leaving quietly, without disturbing anyone.
Nor did he have the right to disturb the peaceful lives of the Winged People here.
With a sigh, he let the little Winged boy's face fade from his mind, found a deserted spot, landed out of his escape light, and plunged into the soil.
Decades of practice in Earth Escape now let him move with ease even beneath the soil. Quietly sensing the surging earth element power underground, he followed that feeling through the earth. The Earth Spirit Pearl's fluctuations were exceptionally clear. It was a sensation he knew well; there could be no mistake.
As he slowly approached, he discovered that he was not the only one. This was easy enough to understand. The Earth Spirit Pearl's presence here was no secret. Back when Shanmen, the Chu Sect, and Zhaoneng Temple had widely publicized their denunciations of the Ruthless Dao, they had already exposed the Earth Spirit Pearl's whereabouts to the entire continent's cultivation world. Their thinking had been that, since it was no secret and had become something under everyone's watchful gaze, those who wanted to claim it would naturally hesitate to strike the rat