The Alchemist's Guide to Flesh and Blood Ascension

The closer they got to the funnel-shaped pit, the clearer the sound of their footsteps treading on the sand became.

To be precise, the things on the ground were more like tiny crystals refracting the blazing sun; without goggles, the light could practically blind you.

Yunevo took a deep breath, and the dry desert air filled his lungs, unexpectedly bringing a refreshing feeling. This was the effect of the [Seabuckthorn Demon's Gallbladder].

At this moment, he was no different from a giant cactus in the desert, or perhaps even more resilient.

Yunevo then took a step forward, crouched down, stared at the deep pit for a long time, and finally spoke: "It's down there, and judging from its state, it should be dormant..."

Then, he closed his eyes again and used the passive skill [Root of the Sand Sea] to carefully perceive every movement beneath this sand sea.

This skill is much more complex than [Spiritual Vision]. It is not a single, targeted skill. Instead, it requires the user to find the correct one from the countless threads of "roots" that extend from beneath their feet.

The friction of each grain of sand, and even the heat and humidity, gradually created a three-dimensional effect in his mind, similar to a "thermal imaging".

"Using the center of the funnel as the origin, at the eleven o'clock position... forty meters underground, it's fast asleep," Yunevo opened his eyes, frowned slightly, and then looked at Iseria: "How is it? Do the little 'ethers' have a chance to attack it?"

"Hmm... I'll do my best!" Iseria nodded. At this moment, she took off her hood, revealing a head of long, off-white hair that was fluttering in the sandstorm. She then raised her slender arm, which was hidden under her black robe, with her palm facing upwards and a faint light shimmering within it.

The aetheric elements around them, which had become somewhat violent due to the long period of dormancy, gathered like a swarm of bees swarming toward their prey as soon as they saw the summons from their leader!

"Three, two, one..."

As Iseria finished her soft countdown, a beam of azure light slammed down like a space cannon, sending dust billowing everywhere!

"Change positions, let's go!" Yunefu's feet flashed with a blue light, it was the [Swift Rush] that was activated at this moment. He pulled up Iseria and turned into a blur... in an instant, he moved more than twenty meters across the crystallized sand dune.

BOOM—!!

Countless crystallized sand grains flew out, turning into a torrential downpour that pounded against the arcane magic shield erected by Yunevo, stirring up ripples in the pale blue barrier!

A huge, dark red head covered in thorns and acid emerged from the sea of ​​sand. Its carapace was polished, but the muscles beneath it were rotten and shriveled, emitting a nauseating stench.

Beneath three pairs of compound eyes flashing with ferocity were densely packed mouthparts that opened and closed continuously, spewing acid... The smell of blood and burnt acid made the two men, who were equipped with breathing devices, frown for a long time.

The sea-dried worm, the nightmare of the golden trade route, now bares its fangs at the challengers who come to their deaths!

"Iseria, there's a gap beneath the third segment of its neck carapace. There's no hard armor protecting it there; it might be its spiracles!" Yune shouted from beneath the swirling dust. "Don't worry about hitting it; I'll protect you!"

With the insight of the [Root of the Sands], the scourge's proud stealthy attacks were nothing more than running naked down the street to Yunevo!

"I understand!" Iseria leaped high into the air with the help of Yunevo's shoulder, and the etheric elements transformed into floating boards suspended in the air, which she could then step on...

The girl's eyes sharpened, and the azure patterns on her right arm lit up. She pointed at the air vent of the calamity insect emerging from the ground in the yellow sand—the spear formed from etheric elements instantly sliced ​​through the air and pierced the weak point marked by Yunefu!

puff!

The blood, a mixture of green and purple, was lavishly sprayed like a fountain onto this scorching desert, burning the crystallized sand until it hissed and emitted black smoke!

The sea-drying worm let out a mournful roar, then crashed heavily to the ground, still trying to twist its massive body and desperately slide its tentacles, attempting to burrow back into the sand!

Although Yonivore was not involved in the main attack, as the commander, he would not let go of this excellent opportunity to pursue!

"Aim at one side of it, those few that have dug up Saudi Arabian..." Before he could finish speaking, Iseria's attack followed like a shadow...

"Arms, right!"

A beam of blue-white light pierced precisely through one of the sandworm's arms!

This tacit understanding first appeared in the battles of Starmok and became deeply ingrained during several hunts in the Morse Desert.

Yunevo provides Iseria with accurate predictions and information, which Iseria then summarizes and transforms into lethal damage in an instant!

The worm's simple brain capacity couldn't comprehend how such a tiny creature could see through its every move.

All it knew was that it might die.

So it gave up struggling to dig in the sand, and its originally dark red carapace glowed with an eerie purple light. The flow of magic power within its body instantly became extreme and violent!

"The second phase, probably a breath attack..." Yunevo's plan was simple: use the maximum speed of [Gale Rush] to take Iseria away from here...

So the cyan stream of light arrived in front of Iseria before the sky-covering purple acid mist, and with a long trail, it instantly moved behind the sandworm!

"Its valves were already damaged, and by overdrawing its own breath... it will inevitably lead to a certain degree of exhaustion," Yonivo analyzed.

"So...we're going to give it a good beating before its shell closes, right!" Iseria raised her hand, locking onto the sandworm's already severely damaged spiracles through the yellow sand, and clenched her fist tightly!

The blue-white light transformed into an incredibly precise slash, heading straight for the sand worm's "throat"!

Click!

Even its incredibly hard shell was torn apart, and the worm let out a roar that was a mixture of anger and fear!

Greenish-purple blood splattered everywhere... A few drops landed on the hem of Iseria's black card, leaving several scorch marks...

"It's not over yet... This thing still seems to have strength," Yunevo's expression turned serious, and he gently placed his hand on Iseria's shoulder...

Then, the girl saw the calamity insect's every move with perfect clarity—it actually burrowed back into the sand in a few breaths, and in that torn section of its body, a huge and twisted source of demonic energy was constantly gathering!

"That thing...it's so black, it's a curse!" Iseria exclaimed, instinctively shielding Yune in front of her.

"Can you interrupt it?" Yunevo pinched his cheek, witnessing the colossal creature beneath the sand truly transforming into its second stage.

"This is difficult... The little 'ethers' are a bit tired and may not be able to defeat those dark things."

A series of overlapping whispers, like the murmurs of countless people, came from beneath the sea of ​​sand...