79: The King of the Crocodiles appears, a powerful martial artist?

Li Wuji's mouth curved into a mysterious smile. After learning that there were insects with this special ability in the Death Desert, he specifically looked up relevant information.

Although related records were scarce, a few points were still documented.

Firstly, the Petrification ability of the Death Sandworm cannot be triggered by looking into its eyes or being touched by it; otherwise, spiritual energy will rapidly drain, and once consumed to a certain extent, one will be completely petrified.

Secondly, it mainly inhabits the core area of the Death Desert, but encountering one in the outer periphery today indicates that some change must have occurred internally.

Lastly, the Petrification Sandworm is a gregarious creature, ranging from dozens to a hundred or as few as seven or eight, which is why this creature is so renowned in the Death Desert.

Previously, this Martial Master Realm Peak Petrification Sandworm was actually able to petrify Li Wuji, a Martial General Realm expert. If not for Li Wuji's powerful strength and strange abilities, he might have truly capsized in the gutter.

And that was just the effect of one. If there were seven or eight, or even dozens to a hundred, then Li Wuji could only avoid their edge.

"Let me see where you're going."

Most importantly, Li Wuji also saw a biography which stated that the Petrification Sandworm was cursed, its purpose being to guard some kind of treasure.

Saying this, Li Wuji shot out. During the previous battle, he had condensed a Tracking Spirit Gu and attached it to its body, allowing him to track its movements.

Li Wuji's figure was light, like a falling feather, speeding through the vast and boundless sky above the Death Desert.

He closed his eyes and focused, sensing the faint fluctuations transmitted by the Tracking Spirit Gu. The fluctuations were like the brightest star in the night sky, guiding him forward.

As he went deeper, the surrounding landscape became increasingly desolate, and the air was filled with a suppressive and ancient Aura, as if even time had frozen here.

Li Wuji was secretly vigilant, knowing that the closer he got to the depths of the Death Desert, the greater the danger.

However, he had no intention of retreating. After all, his experiments required a large number of Petrification Sandworms, so no matter what, he had to enter the core of the Death Desert.

Just then, the light of the Tracking Spirit Gu suddenly became rapid, as if conveying some important information to Li Wuji.

His heart stirred, and he immediately adjusted his direction, flying towards a seemingly ordinary sand dune.

However, before he could even get close, his connection with the Spirit Gu was suddenly severed, as if something had cut it off.

"Could this be the true nest of the Petrification Sandworm swarm?" Li Wuji mused inwardly, feeling both excited and solemn.

Being able to block his perception meant that there was definitely an existence stronger than him or some special item below.

Li Wuji slowly descended onto the Peak of the sand dune. The sand particles beneath his feet were fine and warm, yet they concealed unknown secrets.

He looked around. Besides the boundless sea of sand, there was only fine sand occasionally swept up by the breeze. Everything seemed so calm yet eerie.

With a thought, spiritual energy gathered on his body. A Gu Insect with a drill-like head enveloped Li Wuji, and then carried him into the dust.

As Li Wuji was enveloped by the Spirit Gu, his body seemed to transform into invisible sand particles, merging with the surrounding sand sea, silently slipping beneath the sand dune.

The sound of sand friction was subtle and continuous in his ears, like nature's whisper, guiding him into the unknown Domain.

The deeper he went, the heavier the air became, and a sense of oppression arose spontaneously.

Li Wuji's mind was taut, and the speed of his spiritual energy circulation couldn't help but quicken a few points to cope with any potential changes.

Soon, he felt a faint light suddenly appear in front of him, and the next moment, he appeared in a dim cave.

Before Li Wuji could examine it carefully, he felt several strong Auras rapidly approaching.

"Have I been discovered?"

But he did not panic. Instead, he moved close to the darkness beside him and slowly merged into it.

Almost the instant he merged, two ferocious-looking Petrification Sandworms appeared at the cave entrance. Their phosphorescent eyes on their chests looked into the cave.

"It seems the guards here are even stricter than I imagined."

Li Wuji thought to himself, using the darkness as cover. He held his breath and concentrated, lowering his spiritual energy fluctuations to the minimum, as if he had become a part of this shadow.

The two Petrification Sandworms lingered at the entrance for a while, seemingly finding nothing unusual, but their eyes still revealed vigilance and cunning.

Li Wuji pondered. The two Petrification Sandworms just now were both newly advanced Martial Masters, but if they were outside, they would definitely be the nightmare of anyone entering this Death Desert.

Not only that, but he also keenly sensed dozens of strong Auras. There were likely dozens of Petrification Sandworms here, making it the true old nest of the Petrification Sandworm.

Suddenly, a low rumbling sound came from the front, accompanied by a slight vibration of the ground.

Li Wuji concentrated and listened. The sound got closer and clearer, as if countless lives were surging underground.

"What could it be?"

A flicker of doubt flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand and condensed several Gu Insects, sending them crawling out through the cave entrance. At the same time, he saw the situation outside through these Gu Insects in his mind.

He saw a huge underground cavern appear not far ahead. Inside the cave, seventy or eighty Petrification Sandworms were either still or slowly crawling. Their exoskeletons shimmered with an eerie glow in the faint light.

Waves of powerful Auras permeated the air. Li Wuji's expression couldn't help but change. Although most of them were Martial Master Realm, there were still more than a dozen Martial General Realm existences.

Especially the two deepest ones, he guessed that they were very likely existences at the late Martial General Realm or even the Martial General Realm peak.

If they were such existences, perhaps even he would be unable to resist that Petrification power.

And in the deepest part of the cave, a mountain of corpses piled up from countless skeletons was clearly visible. Above it, a hazy ball of light was slowly rotating, emitting a heart-palpitating Aura.

"That ball of light... what is it?"

Li Wuji was startled. He had never seen such a thing. It simply didn't look like something that could be produced by modern technology.

"Could that legend be true?"

"Roar~"

A low roar brought Li Wuji back to his senses and also startled all the Petrification Sandworms. They all stood up and then lowered their heads as if welcoming their King.

Even the two Petrification Sandworms with terrifying Auras were no exception. Li Wuji couldn't help but look in the direction the sound came from.

When he saw the scene in the distance, his pupils constricted violently. He saw a much larger Petrification Sandworm slowly crawl out from behind that pile of corpses, and at the same time, a terrifying Aura instantly filled the entire cave.

"Petrification Sandworm Insect King, is it Wu Zong Realm?"