There was an empty patch of grass beside the pool, and the eagle-beaked beast was recalled to the space by Lu Heng after falling onto the grass.
Lu Heng concealed his aura and observed the surrounding situation. The sound of the waterfall was immense, masking many other noises, making it impossible to sense the surroundings through sound alone.
The forest was filled with the fresh scent of vegetation. Occasionally, a gentle breeze from the ground would blow, caressing his face like a lover’s touch. There were no scents left by any animals here.
However, regarding scents, human olfactory senses were certainly not as sensitive as those of animals, and Lu Heng could not guarantee the accuracy of what he smelled.
After standing still for a while and seeing no demonic beasts attacking him, Lu Heng released Xiao Liu, the native. This little fellow had the best sense of smell.
“Xiao Liu, can you smell any demonic beasts nearby?”
Xiao Liu curiously surveyed the surroundings, straightened up, and kept twitching its nose, sniffing the vicinity.
While Xiao Liu was sniffing the air, Lu Heng also released Lu Bai.
“Lu Bai, do you feel any familiarity here?”
Lu Bai, currently in the form of a fox, ran a couple of steps towards the pool and also straightened up to observe the surroundings.
“No, this is not where my previous master lived. However, the smell here isn’t very pleasant.”
As expected, animals’ sense of smell was far superior to humans’. Although Lu Heng’s sense of smell had improved significantly after contracting with the chief, it still paled in comparison to these animals.
“Why is it unpleasant? Xiao Liu, don’t run too far.” Lu Heng was still asking Lu Bai when he noticed Xiao Liu had run quite far and had even found a spot to start digging a hole.
“Master, I also feel something strange here. I’ll dig a hole, and if anything happens, I can hide in it.”
“Heh, so spineless.” Lu Heng was almost amused to death by Xiao Liu. This guy felt something was wrong and immediately started digging a shelter for himself. Did he not know that no place was safer than Lu Heng’s space?
Even the eagle-beaked beast knew to seek refuge in the space in unfamiliar environments. This fellow really hadn’t been properly educated, seeming like an uncultured ancient person.
“Come here. As long as you’re not too far from me, I can bring you into the space instantly. There’s nowhere safer than there.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Liu quickly ran over and pressed onto the surface of Lu Heng’s shoe.
“Tell me again, where did you get that strange feeling from just now?”
Lu Heng shook his left foot, trying to dislodge Xiao Liu from his shoe.
“Master, it seems to be in that direction.”
Xiao Liu extended its arm forward, pointing directly at Lu Bai’s direction.
“You’re not still afraid of Lu Bai, are you? I’ve told you, it’s my contracted animal just like you, and it won’t harm you. You’re afraid…”
Before Lu Heng could finish educating Xiao Liu, a massive ripple surged through the water in the pool beneath the waterfall.
“Lu Bai, come back!”
He called Lu Bai back with his thoughts. Lu Bai was currently standing at the edge of the pool.
Lu Bai seemed to have also noticed the change in the pool and quickly turned back, running towards Lu Heng.
A moment later, Lu Heng, with Lu Bai and Xiao Liu, retreated further from the pool. The three of them faced the pool, intently watching the changes in the ripples on the water’s surface.
The ripples on the water seemed to be growing larger, and they were spreading towards Lu Heng and the others, as if some creature within was gradually approaching them.
Lu Heng had been puzzled earlier. If the water here was drinkable, then many animals should have come to drink.
No wonder Lu Heng hadn’t seen a single demonic beast since landing on the ground. Could it be that because there was a terrifying demonic beast in the water, no demonic beasts appeared around the pool?
Not long after, a greenish-blue head emerged from the pool. The head was of a type Lu Heng had never seen before.
The facial contours of the head were somewhat similar to humans, and its nose and mouth also resembled those of humans. However, its eyes were like those of a lizard, and they were vertical pupils.
A ring of skin, resembling an umbrella, protruded from behind the entire head. The color there was closer to yellow.
It wasn’t until the monster gradually revealed half of its body from the water that Lu Heng realized its upper body was also similar to a human’s. It also had two arms, and below its waist, about ten centimeters above the water, its body began to be covered in scales.
This was utterly bizarre. The creatures of the Shenyuan Continent were truly subverting Lu Heng’s understanding time and again.
However, after experiencing rebirth, possessing a spatial city, and freely traversing between two worlds, all of which had happened to Lu Heng himself, he wouldn’t be overly astonished by strange things. He had already calmed his mind in an instant.
Staring at the figure swaying on the water’s surface, the monster seemed to have poor eyesight. Although it was also facing Lu Heng’s direction, Lu Heng felt that its vertical pupils were not focused on him.
“Master, this is a Snake Dragon Beast,” Lu Bai communicated with Lu Heng through their thoughts.
“Are these things solitary or is this the only one?” Lu Heng could tell that the Snake Dragon Beast was a water-elemental demonic beast.
He could already tell that this single one was level ten. If it were just one, it could be easily killed.
However, he was afraid that this creature was also gregarious, and if a group came later, it would be troublesome.
“They are gregarious and usually stay in the deep water areas. I don’t know why this one appeared alone.”
Just as he feared, it was gregarious?
Lu Heng didn’t hesitate any longer and, taking Lu Bai and the others, flashed back into the space. From within the space, he could still see the situation outside.
If the scent of him outside dispersed, would that Snake Dragon Beast return to the water?
Looking at the Snake Dragon Beast outside, Lu Heng felt uninhibited in the space. Sitting in the space, Lu Heng pointed at the Snake Dragon Beast and asked, “This thing is so high-level, and it’s a gregarious demonic beast?”
“Yes, I’ve seen this kind of Snake Dragon Beast in other places, which is why I recognized it immediately.”
“They shouldn’t be able to leave the water, right? How do they migrate on land?” How could these aquatic creatures be found in any body of water? The waters wouldn’t all be connected.
“Why wouldn’t they?” Lu Bai replied, watching the Snake Dragon Beast that was getting closer to the shore.
“What?” Lu Heng was somewhat surprised, not understanding Lu Bai’s meaning.
However, Lu Bai didn’t need to explain any further. The Snake Dragon Beast that had been in the water moments ago twisted its body onto the shore and headed towards the spot where Lu Heng and the others had just been standing.
But as it first landed, it lowered its head and sniffed at the spot where Lu Bai had just been standing, and then the umbrella-shaped ring of skin behind its head fluttered a few times.