Behemoth Gorge was a rugged terrain filled with towering rocks and uneven paths. For those without flight capabilities, losing one's way here was almost inevitable.
While Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor could not fly, his status as a Titled Douluo allowed him to hover using soul power—a common feat for those at his level.
Though Titled Douluo could fly, they rarely performed well in aerial battles compared to true flying-type spirit masters.
Dugu Bo surveyed the gorge from above, his sharp gaze scanning the landscape. After a short search, he descended gracefully. "It's here," he said confidently.
He led the way, and Nan Feihuang followed without hesitation.
Traveling alongside a Titled Douluo was a unique privilege, offering unmatched security. As long as one avoided places like the Lake of Life or the heart of the Extreme North, most areas on the continent became accessible.
After a short trek, the duo arrived at a massive depression in the ground.
Rather than calling it a pit, it was more accurate to describe it as a footprint—a colossal impression left by some enormous creature.
The print was fresh, indicating the beast responsible was still nearby.
Dugu Bo crouched, measuring the footprint with a practiced eye. "This is indeed from a Bloodthirsty Berserk Bear. They're not giants among spirit beasts—their size is comparable to the Titan Giant Ape. Even at a hundred-thousand-year level, they're only about twenty meters tall. Before that, they grow one meter per thousand years, and after ten thousand years, they grow one meter per ten thousand years. Judging by this footprint, this one is about five and a half meters tall, corresponding to roughly 5,500 years of cultivation—just right for your third spirit ring."
"Wow, Old Poison, I didn't realize you were such an expert on spirit beasts!" Nan Feihuang remarked, admiration evident in his tone.
Dugu Bo smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "Haha, of course! I'm a Titled Douluo, after all. I've even studied in the Spirit Hall library, where the archives are free for Titled Douluo. Back then, I spent a lot of time researching ways to cure my poison, and I learned quite a bit about spirit beasts. If you need advice on spirit beasts in the future, feel free to ask."
He seemed genuinely proud to be of assistance, eager to repay some of the kindness Nan Feihuang had shown him.
Suddenly, the ground trembled with a steady rhythm, like the footsteps of a giant drawing near.
Dugu Bo reacted instantly, grabbing Nan Feihuang and hiding behind a boulder. Though his senses told him it was likely the Bloodthirsty Berserk Bear they sought, he wasn't certain. If it turned out to be a ten-thousand-year beast, even he would have to exert some effort to subdue it.
Spirit beasts with Behemoth bloodlines were infamous for their ability to challenge those far above their cultivation level. A thousand-year Behemoth descendant could fight a ten-thousand-year beast, and a ten-thousand-year one could battle creatures with fifty to sixty thousand years of cultivation.
It was best to assess the situation before engaging.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The heavy footsteps grew louder. Both Dugu Bo and Nan Feihuang held their breath, peeking out cautiously from behind the rock.
As the massive creature lumbered past, Nan Feihuang exhaled in relief. "Phew, good thing we stayed hidden. That one was over ten meters tall—it must have been a ten-thousand-year beast. It'd be a good match for my family's E'Lai in the future; his martial soul would suit a spirit ring from something like that."
Dugu Bo chuckled. "Don't relax just yet, Little Flying General. There's another one coming. By its aura, it's much smaller—likely the one we're looking for."
Moments later, another Bloodthirsty Berserk Bear emerged from the shadows. This one was significantly smaller, its height just over five meters. It held a fish-like spirit beast in its mouth, clearly having just returned from a hunt.
"That's the one!" Dugu Bo's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he released his martial soul. Two yellow, two purple, and five black spirit rings appeared, with the third ring glowing brilliantly. "Third Spirit Skill: Jade Phosphor Maze!"
A field of green mist materialized, enveloping the unsuspecting bear.
The bear froze, startled by the sudden appearance of the toxic fog. It let out a deafening roar, exhaling powerful gusts in an attempt to disperse the mist. However, no matter how hard it tried, the fog remained unshaken—this was no ordinary poison but the skill of a Titled Douluo.
Nan Feihuang gripped his Fang Tian Halberd tightly, ready to charge, but Dugu Bo stopped him.
"No need to rush. No matter how ferocious a Bloodthirsty Berserk Bear may be, it's still just a thousand-year beast. Breaking out of my poison field is impossible. Give it some time; the toxins will sap its strength. Then you can finish it off in one strike."
Hearing this, Nan Feihuang relaxed slightly, his gaze fixed on the trapped bear.
Enraged by the poison, the bear's already violent nature intensified. Its heavy fists slammed into the surrounding rock walls, shaking the ground with each impact.
"That's its Blood Demon Strike," Dugu Bo explained, his tone instructive. "The Demon Bear Douluo from Spirit Hall also uses this skill. Watch carefully—you might face it one day, and knowing how to counter it will come in handy."
As the bear switched tactics, slashing the rock with its claws, Dugu Bo continued, "And this is its Bloodthirsty Claw. While not as powerful as the Sky-Splitting Claw of the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear, it's still deadly. At higher levels, it's devastating."
"Old Poison, do you have a grudge against Demon Bear Douluo or something?" Nan Feihuang teased, noticing Dugu Bo's pointed remarks.
"Not exactly," Dugu Bo admitted with a snort. "But I've always hated Spirit Hall. Back when I repeatedly rejected their offers, those two bastards, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, chased me down and nearly killed me. If not for Prince Xue Xing's patrol army, I'd have died long ago. Since then, I've clashed with several Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall. Chrysanthemum Douluo, in particular, has embarrassed me more times than I care to count. Little Flying General, you've got potential—help me settle the score someday!"
"Hah, don't worry, Old Poison. Anyone who bullies my friends is an enemy of mine. I'll take down that Chrysanthemum Douluo for you!" Nan Feihuang promised, his tone full of conviction.
Just then, the bear's behavior changed. Its eyes turned blood-red, and its body swelled with muscle.
Dugu Bo's expression turned serious. "It's activating its Berserk state. This is their ultimate augmentation skill, sacrificing reason for immense power. Let it exhaust itself. Once the frenzy ends, you can take it down with your Half-Moon Slash."