Seeing how alert Lin Xia was, Lou Gao smiled helplessly. With practiced ease, he pulled several freshly slaughtered low-level Spirit Beast carcasses from the inconspicuous leather storage soul tool at his waist. The bodies—sand rabbits and rock lizards—still carried the strong scent of blood.
As he deftly scattered the bait across several relatively flat stretches of sand, Lou Gao explained in a low voice,
"These Yellow Storm Rats are extremely cunning and timid."
"They're born with the ability to manipulate Sand Force to conceal themselves. In areas like this, full of loose sand, they won't show themselves unless they're starving or absolutely certain it's safe."
"Their burrow entrance could be right beneath your feet. But trying to force them out using eyesight or ordinary spirit power perception would take enormous effort. It's inefficient—and worse, it alerts them."
After tossing the last bloody carcass beside a large rock, Lou Gao brushed the sand from his hands and quickly retreated a dozen meters with Lin Xia and Larvitar. The three of them hid behind a massive, weathered rock that shielded them from the wind.
Lowering his voice, Lou Gao pointed toward the baited area, a sharp hunter's gleam flashing in his eyes.
"The best way to deal with them is to make them come out on their own. Fresh blood is irresistible to creatures that survive in this barren desert."
"Just wait. If there are any nearby, once they smell it, they won't be able to hold back for long. And when that happens…"
Lou Gao made a swift chopping motion, a trace of ruthlessness crossing his face.
Lin Xia nodded, fully understanding. He held his breath and pressed himself deeper into the shadow of the rock, exposing only his eyes, which were locked tightly on the blood-soaked sand.
Larvitar seemed to sense the tension of the hunt as well. It stopped fidgeting and lay quietly beside Lin Xia, its small crimson eyes staring ahead. Its nose twitched slightly—clearly, it too had caught the scent of blood drifting on the wind.
The scorching sun baked the endless expanse of yellow sand, filling the air with dryness and deathly silence.
Crouched behind the rock, Lin Xia felt his heart quicken with anticipation.
Seconds passed. Then minutes. The desert's silence felt heavy enough to swallow all sound.
About ten minutes later, Lin Xia's sharp eyes caught something unusual. A small patch of sand shifted—several grains sank inward, forming a faint, almost imperceptible vortex.
"It's here!"
Lin Xia's spirits rose instantly. His body tensed, spirit power flowing quietly as he prepared to spring forward.
At that moment, a thick, calloused hand pressed firmly onto his shoulder.
It was Lou Gao.
The Divine Craftsman tilted his head slightly and shook it—an almost imperceptible movement, yet resolute. His eyes conveyed a clear message: stay calm.
Lin Xia understood at once. He forcefully suppressed the urge to act, sinking even deeper into the rock's shadow and slowing his breathing to the bare minimum.
He trusted his teacher's experience.
Sure enough, at the edge of the baited area, a small head covered in earthy-yellow bristles cautiously emerged from the sand.
A pair of sharp, wary eyes darted around rapidly, scanning the surroundings. Its nostrils flared constantly as it greedily inhaled the rich scent of blood in the air.
Yet it didn't rush toward the food within reach.
Instead, after a brief inspection of the seemingly empty surroundings, it suddenly retreated back into the sand as if startled. The small pit it left behind was quickly smoothed over by shifting grains.
Lin Xia was momentarily stunned.
This Yellow Storm Rat is way too cautious!
But that was only the beginning.
Less than a minute later, the same small head emerged again—this time from a different patch of sand farther away. It repeated the exact process: careful observation, cautious sniffing, confirming safety… then retreating once more.
This happened three or four times. Each appearance came from a different location, as if the creature were conducting an exhaustive reconnaissance.
Just as Lin Xia was beginning to grow impatient, wondering if the rats were simply too timid to act, the situation suddenly changed.
"Wooo—!"
Without warning, a deep, powerful wind howled through the air.
Centered on the largest piece of bait, the sand within dozens of meters began to churn violently, like water brought to a rolling boil!
Countless grains of sand were swept into the air by an invisible force, instantly forming a raging Sandstorm several meters high and over ten meters wide.
Yellow sand filled the sky, blotting out the sun. Visibility vanished, replaced by a murky, swirling wall of sand.
The gale whipped sand and gravel around, producing a harsh rustling sound mixed with a low, whistling roar.
At the exact moment the Sandstorm took shape, a dense chorus of excited squeaks erupted from its center!
The sound was filled with greed and impatience. Clearly, more than one Yellow Storm Rat had been drawn out, using the self-created Sandstorm as cover while they prepared to feast.
"Hmph. This is exactly what I was waiting for."
Lou Gao's eyes gleamed sharply, a cold smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
This was the moment he had been waiting for—the instant when the prey relaxed completely and gathered together.
The Sandstorm was the Yellow Storm Rats' greatest defense… and also their greatest weakness.
"Vajra Chisel!"
Lou Gao shouted lowly as spirit power exploded from his body like a volcano.
A blinding yellow radiance erupted, and a massive chisel-shaped Spirit formed in his hands. Its design was primitive yet imposing, as if forged entirely from dark-golden refined steel. The tip gleamed with an invincible cold light.
The surging pressure of his spirit power spread outward like a tangible force, causing even the raging Sandstorm to pause for an instant.
The next second, Lou Gao shot forward like a cannonball, plunging straight into the heart of the storm.
He moved too fast and too fiercely. Lin Xia's vision blurred, and in the blink of an eye, his teacher's figure was completely swallowed by the swirling yellow sand.
Inside the Sandstorm, chaos erupted.
"Bang!"
"Squeak—!!!"
"Boom!"
Dull impacts, explosive bursts of spirit power, and shrill, agonized screeches intertwined with the howling wind, reaching Lin Xia's ears with chilling clarity.
He could even feel the sand beneath his feet trembling—the violent aftermath of powerful forces colliding within the storm.
Sand was repeatedly blasted outward by the shockwaves, only to be dragged back in by the wind. Lin Xia's view flickered in and out, revealing only fleeting silhouettes and surging waves of earthy-yellow spirit power inside the Sandstorm.
The entire exchange lasted only a dozen breaths.
Yet the suffocating pressure and chaotic noise made it feel far longer.
At last—
"Disperse!"
A short, commanding shout thundered from the heart of the Sandstorm.
An even more domineering surge of spirit power erupted, like an invisible giant hand ripping the storm apart.
Whoosh—!
The wind swept the remaining sand away in all directions, and the world abruptly became clear once more.