The Poison Emperor Emerges, Startling Change in the Spider's Shadow

Star Dou Great Forest, at the boundary between the outer region and the mixed zone. Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, while the thick humus layer gave off a damp scent. The light was dim, and the air brimmed with the danger and restlessness unique to a primeval forest.

A dark green figure flitted through the woods like a ghost, moving so fast that only faint afterimages remained. Dugu Bo's face was gloomy, yet cold flames burned in his eyes. He restrained the aura of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor with all his strength, but the terrifying pressure belonging to a Titled Douluo still made the low-level soul beasts within several hundred meters tremble in fear, too afraid to approach.

"Outer Star Dou Forest... Man Faced Demon Spider... over a thousand years old..." The "intelligence" Ling Feng had casually mentioned outside Thunderflame Valley today echoed through his mind—Spirit Hall's secret files indicated that a Man Faced Demon Spider over a thousand years old had recently been active here. Its venom was fiercely potent and might prove remarkably effective in researching new Mixed Poisons.

Dugu Bo had not cared much about such minor intelligence, but Ling Feng's next words—"This spider seems to possess a peculiar metal-element mutation. If it can be captured, it may have an unexpected effect in suppressing the final backlash of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison"—instantly struck at his weak point! Although Yan Yan's poison affliction had been suppressed by Ling Feng using immortal herbs, the toxicity rooted in her martial soul remained. It would pose a tremendous hidden danger when she sought to break through to higher realms in the future! He would not let go of any clue that might completely resolve that danger!

"Hmph, brat... this had better be true." Dugu Bo snorted inwardly, but did not slow in the slightest. Though he had doubts about the source of Ling Feng's "intelligence," the other man's mystery and methods—especially the fact that he had helped Dugu Bo transform and cured Yan Yan—forced him to believe at least part of it. Besides, making a trip to the outer Star Dou Forest was no more difficult to him than taking a stroll.

God-Tier Choice assistance: Target area locked. Tang San's fortune trajectory fluctuations are intensifying. He is expected to arrive within one hour. Ling Feng's voice seemed to ring directly beside Dugu Bo's ear, cold and precise. This was precisely the temporary assistance function the system had granted Ling Feng after he chose to "kill with a borrowed knife"—vague guidance and alerts for key moments.

Dugu Bo abruptly halted, landing on the branch of an enormous ancient ironwood tree. His molten-gold vertical pupils, as precise as the finest Soul Tool, swept across a relatively open, shadowy hollow below that was filled with spiderwebs and bones. The air carried a strange, faintly fishy-sweet scent mixed with the smell of rusted metal.

"This is the place... What heavy baleful aura!" Dugu Bo frowned slightly. The senses of a Titled Douluo told him that this place was unusual. Not only did it bear the aura of a poison-type soul beast, but there also lingered an exceptionally obscure fluctuation carrying the meaning of judgment and destruction, as if an extremely powerful existence had stood here not long ago. That made him believe Ling Feng's intelligence a little more.

He held his breath and focused, blending into the ancient tree's shadow as he waited patiently. The patience of a Titled Douluo was enough to outlast any prey.

Time passed second by second. The forest grew increasingly silent. Even the chirping of insects vanished, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the wind, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.

At last, faint and deliberately softened footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by quiet conversation.

"...Little San, are you sure it's this way? The map marks this area as the 'Spider Demon Nest.' It's very dangerous!" A somewhat worried female voice spoke. It was Xiao Wu.

"It can't be wrong. Master analyzed it before—the soul beast most suitable for my Blue Silver Grass's third soul ring is most likely the Man Faced Demon Spider. The environment and residual aura in this area both match its habits." Tang San's steady voice carried undeniable confidence. "Be careful. I can sense that it's nearby."

Through the gaps in the leaves, Dugu Bo saw the two cautiously approaching figures. Tang San held a jet-black hammer in his hand—the Clear Sky Hammer in disguise. His gaze was sharp, and his Blue Silver Grass martial soul was ready to strike. Xiao Wu followed closely behind, her lively eyes vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

"The targets have appeared... Tang San, Xiao Wu..." A cold glint flashed through Dugu Bo's molten-gold vertical pupils. These two names meant nothing to him. They were merely two youngsters who did not know their limits. His target was that Man Faced Demon Spider!

Just as Tang San and Xiao Wu stepped into the center of the hollow and warily examined the huge webs and bones on the ground, a sudden change erupted!

"Hiss—!"

A shrill, ear-piercing screech filled with savagery and greed suddenly rang out from behind a twisted dead tree at the edge of the hollow! Immediately afterward, a huge, terrifying figure that seemed forged from metal pounced forth!

It was a gigantic spider more than two meters long! Its main body was covered in Dark Gold carapace that gleamed with metallic luster. Eight spider legs, like sharp spears, drove deeply into the earth and supported its massive body. Most horrifying of all was the savage, twisted human-face pattern on its abdomen, as though it were grinning viciously! It was a thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider! Judging by the ferocious aura it exuded and the color of its shell, it was absolutely close to two thousand years old! Far beyond the limit Tang San could endure!

"Watch out!" Tang San's expression changed drastically. He shouted sharply as the Clear Sky Hammer instantly rose before him, while Blue Silver Grass spread wildly beneath his feet, attempting to bind and restrain it!

Xiao Wu reacted just as swiftly. Activating her Waist Bow, she instantly sprang backward!

But the Man Faced Demon Spider was astonishingly fast! Its eight legs tore through the air with terrifying whistles. Its huge mandibles opened, spraying foul venom like arrows straight at the retreating Xiao Wu! The venom was a strange Dark Gold color and clearly contained horrifying metal-element poison!

"Xiao Wu!" Tang San's eyes nearly split apart! Blue Silver Grass surged madly toward the venom, trying to block it, but the tough Blue Silver Grass vines gave off sharp sizzling sounds the instant they touched the Dark Gold venom. They were swiftly corroded and metallized, becoming brittle beyond measure!

Just as the venom was about to engulf Xiao Wu, at that critical instant—

"Wretched beast! You court death!"

A cold shout containing endless majesty and chilling poisonous balefulness exploded over the hollow like thunder!

Boom—!

A towering dark green poison mist descended in an instant like a burst dam, precisely covering the Dark Gold venom sprayed by the Man Faced Demon Spider! Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—! Terrifying corrosive sounds erupted! That incomparably tyrannical Dark Gold venom rapidly dissolved and neutralized the moment it contacted the dark green poison mist, like snow splashed with boiling soup!

Then, a dark green figure appeared before Xiao Wu as though teleporting, casually sweeping a broad sleeve.

An irresistible surge of terrifying Soul Power, like an invisible giant hammer, smashed viciously into the Man Faced Demon Spider as it lunged through the air!

"Hisskraa—!"

The Man Faced Demon Spider let out a distorted, agonized scream! Its incomparably hard Dark Gold carapace, which it had been so proud of, crumpled inward over a large area beneath the crushing force, as if it were made of paper! Its enormous body was sent flying like a tattered sack, snapping several trees as thick as bowls before crashing heavily to the ground. Its eight legs twitched as dark green blood continuously spilled from its mandibles. It had clearly suffered grave injuries!

Such was the terrifying might of a Titled Douluo!

The abrupt turn of events left Tang San and Xiao Wu completely stunned!

They stared at the figure standing before them, shrouded in dark green poison mist. They could not see his face, yet he radiated a terrifying aura like that of a primordial ferocious beast. Their hearts nearly stopped beating! Just one move! He had severely injured the thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider that had driven them to despair! What... what level of expert was this?!

"Se... Senior..." Tang San forcibly suppressed the horror in his heart and spoke in a dry voice. His palm, gripping the Clear Sky Hammer, was drenched in cold sweat. He could feel the other man's icy gaze, like tangible poisonous needles, stabbing his skin painfully! What frightened him even more was that the terrifying poison-element aura around this man seemed... even purer and a hundred times more frightening than the Man Faced Demon Spider's!

"Hmph." Dugu Bo snorted coldly, too lazy to pay attention to these two juniors. His gaze remained fixed on the heavily wounded Man Faced Demon Spider, which was struggling to rise. He had deliberately controlled the force of that strike. He had to heavily injure it, but not kill it outright. Ling Feng's intelligence had mentioned that trace of "metal-element mutation," and he needed to observe it alive!

Just then!

Warning! High-energy reaction! Divine aura locked on! Extreme danger! The system's cold, urgent alarm exploded in Dugu Bo's mind!

Dugu Bo's molten-gold vertical pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints! An unprecedented, lethal sense of crisis born from the instinct to survive seized his entire body in an instant! It was as if a slumbering primordial beast had fixed its gaze on him! He did not even have time to think!

Boom—!

Without any warning! Above the hollow, an enormous Dark Gold hammer phantom composed entirely of Soul Power condensed to the utmost limit appeared from thin air like divine punishment! Carrying a terrifying might capable of shattering mountains and rivers and destroying all things, it ripped through the air and smashed savagely toward Dugu Bo's head!

Before the hammer even arrived, its terrifying pressure had already cracked the ground of the hollow inch by inch! The surrounding ancient trees were crushed by invisible force, exploding into powder one after another!

Tang Hao! The Clear Sky Douluo!

"Bastard!" Dugu Bo was both shocked and enraged. No longer caring about the Man Faced Demon Spider, he instantly drove all his Soul Power to its utmost limit! The phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor roared madly behind him!

"Ninth Soul Skill! Jade Phosphor Divine Light!"

A dark green beam condensed to the extreme shot into the sky, carrying terrifying poisonous balefulness that could corrode all things as it crashed viciously into the descending Clear Sky Great Hammer!

Rumble—!!!

It was like two meteors colliding in the low sky! A deafening explosion rang across the heavens! Violent energy shockwaves swept madly in every direction like a tsunami! The hollow was instantly leveled to the ground! Smoke and dust filled the air as shattered stones flew everywhere!

Even though Dugu Bo was already at Peak Level 95, directly withstanding the enraged strike of the Clear Sky Douluo still made his blood and qi churn. His throat sweetened, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth! Borrowing the recoil of the explosion, his figure retreated like a ghost, instantly vanishing into the thick smoke and forest. Only an icy warning echoed amid the fading shockwaves:

"Clear Sky Hammer... Tang Hao! This old man will remember today's affair!"

The smoke and dust gradually dispersed.

The hollow had become ruins. Tang San and Xiao Wu struggled out from a pile of broken rocks and snapped trees, covered in dust. Their faces were pale, and fear lingered in their hearts. Had Tang Hao's attack not been primarily aimed at Dugu Bo, the aftershocks alone would have been enough to tear them apart!

"Dad!" Tang San anxiously called toward the smoke-filled sky.

A tall, slightly disheveled figure descended before Tang San like an iron tower. It was Tang Hao. He held an ancient, simple Clear Sky Hammer in his hand. His expression was dark as water as he stared toward the direction Dugu Bo had vanished, killing intent surging in his eyes. "Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo... He dared attack you two?!"

"No, Dad!" Tang San hurriedly explained. "That senior... seemed to be after the Man Faced Demon Spider, and he... he even saved Xiao Wu!" He pointed into the distance.

The thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider, severely wounded by Dugu Bo, lay at the edge of the ruins, barely alive. More than half of its eight spider legs had broken off, its Dark Gold carapace was riddled with cracks, and green blood covered the ground. Yet the savage human face on its abdomen flickered with an eerie glow of extreme unwillingness and resentment.

Tang Hao's gaze swept over the Man Faced Demon Spider, his brow tightly furrowed. Dugu Bo's actions were indeed strange. Why had he appeared here? Why had he targeted this demon spider? And why had he saved Xiao Wu at the very end? But no matter what, he had dared threaten his son. This debt would be remembered!

"Deal with it first and obtain your soul ring," Tang Hao said deeply, suppressing his doubts.

Tang San nodded, forcing down the turbulent waves in his heart as his gaze became firm once more. Carrying the Clear Sky Hammer, he walked step by step toward the dying, struggling Man Faced Demon Spider. Though the process had been incredibly perilous, in the end... this powerful thousand-year soul beast would still become his possession!

However, just as Tang San raised the Clear Sky Hammer, preparing to deliver the final blow to the Man Faced Demon Spider—

A sudden change erupted again!

The Man Faced Demon Spider, which had originally been on the brink of death with resentment in its eyes, suddenly had the grinning human-face pattern on its abdomen flare with dazzling blood light! An incredibly violent and chaotic aura, filled with destruction and the desire to devour, burst fiercely from its shattered body!

"Hisskraa—!!!"

A screech more shrill and crazed than any before rang through the ruins! The Man Faced Demon Spider's remaining legs drove violently into the ground! Its huge body rapidly swelled like an inflated balloon! Blood light flowed over its Dark Gold carapace as dark green poisonous blood and chaotic energy sprayed from its cracks!

"Not good! It's going to self-destruct its demon core!" Tang Hao's expression changed drastically as he shouted sharply, "Little San! Retreat!"

But it was already too late!

Boom—!!!

A world-shaking blast erupted! The thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider's body exploded like an ignited powder keg! Violent Dark Gold energy mixed with poisonous green blood mist and shattered fragments of metal carapace swept madly in every direction like a storm of destruction!

Tang San, being closest, bore the brunt of it!

"Mysterious Jade Hand! Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!" Tang San's reaction could not have been faster. The inner force of the Mysterious Heaven Skill surged wildly as his hands instantly turned jade-white. His footwork shifted as he attempted to evade. At the same time, Blue Silver Grass poured out madly, weaving into a shield before him!

However, the self-destruction in the dying counterattack of this thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider far exceeded all expectations! Especially the trace of chaotic metal-element energy and resentful poisonous balefulness within it, secretly guided by Ling Feng's Eye of Destiny and the system, then stimulated to the utmost limit!

Puff, puff, puff!

The Blue Silver Grass shield was instantly torn apart like paper! The violent energy blast, mixed with sharp metal fragments, slammed viciously into Tang San's crossed Mysterious Jade Hands protecting his chest!

"Urgh!" Tang San suffered a heavy blow, his body flying backward like a kite with its string cut as he spat out a mouthful of blood! His jade-white hands instantly became mangled masses of flesh and blood, his bones groaning under unbearable strain! Moreover, an icy, violent, chaotic energy carrying intense corrosive power surged madly into his Meridians through his wounds!

"Little San!" Tang Hao's eyes nearly split apart. He instantly appeared behind Tang San, pressing a large hand against his back as his vast, tyrannical Soul Power surged in wildly, helping him suppress the foreign energy raging within his body!

Xiao Wu was also pale with fright as she hurriedly rushed over.

The smoke and chaotic energy slowly dispersed.

At the center of the ruins, only an enormous crater remained, along with scattered Dark Gold carapace fragments and thick dark green poisonous blood. The thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider had been utterly blown apart, leaving not even its demon core intact.

With Tang Hao's vast Soul Power aiding him, Tang San barely suppressed the churning blood and qi within his body and that chaotic energy. Yet his face remained white as paper, and his hands throbbed with piercing pain. He stared at the empty crater, his eyes filled with disbelieving confusion, frustration, and a trace of resentment... sunk deep into his bones!

The soul ring... was gone! His hope of obtaining an External Soul Bone... had also been utterly destroyed! He had even suffered serious injuries!

Who was it?! Who exactly was it?! That mysterious Poison Douluo? Or... the hidden mastermind who had thrown all his plans into chaos?!

"Aah—!!!" Extreme pent-up fury and unwillingness turned into a suppressed roar that burst from the depths of Tang San's throat. It echoed over the deathly silent ruins, brimming with bone-deep hatred.

Several hundred meters from the explosion's center, within the shadow of a crack between rocks covered by dense vines.

Ling Feng waited like the most patient hunter, his aura completely concealed as he merged with the shadows. Through the gaps in the vines, his golden pupils took in Tang San's rage and unwillingness on the distant ruins. The corner of his lips slowly curled into an incomparably cold arc, like ice from the abyss.

Ding! Kill with a borrowed knife mission complete!

Rewards issued: Dugu Bo's favorability has increased substantially! Obtained Dugu Bo's exclusive poison scripture, "Jade Phosphor Poison Codex" (fragment, upper volume)!

Additional gain: Successfully interfered with Tang San's acquisition of the Eight Spider Lances and caused him to suffer backlash from the demon spider's self-destruction! Fortune value plundered: +500!

The system's cold prompt rang in his mind. Yet Ling Feng's gaze did not leave the ruins. Like the most precise scanner, his eyes rapidly searched among the scattered Dark Gold carapace fragments and thick poisonous blood.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply!

At the edge of the crater, within a pool of dark green poisonous blood, several broken Dark Gold objects about a foot long lay quietly! They were sharp and spear-shaped, covered in dense Dark Gold patterns. Their broken ends flickered with faint, living-looking eerie light! Even stained with filthy blood, they still emitted a chillingly sharp aura of devouring!

They were the core portions of the Man Faced Demon Spider's eight most refined spider legs that had not been completely destroyed in the blast! They were also the embryonic form of the External Soul Bone—the Eight Spider Lances!

Ling Feng's heart gave a violent thump at that moment! Even his cold blood seemed to begin flowing faster!

Eight Spider Lances... core bone joints!

Without the slightest hesitation! While Tang Hao focused entirely on treating Tang San's wounds and Xiao Wu was overwhelmed with panic, Ling Feng moved like a ghost merging with the shadows. He drove the Eye of Destiny's power to its utmost limit, avoiding all possible detection! He shot out from the crack in the rocks like lightning, aiming directly for those broken Dark Gold spider spear limbs!

The distance of several dozen meters vanished in an instant!

Ling Feng's palm was covered by a faint golden light of judgment, isolating the remaining poison and chaotic energy. He precisely seized the several Dark Gold broken limbs, which still held residual warmth yet felt icy and hard to the touch! They were heavy in his hand and carried an odd sensation of living pulsation!

Success!

He did not pause in the slightest! Ling Feng's figure seemed to be erased by an eraser, instantly disappearing from where he stood and once again sinking into the dense depths of the forest. Only a faint spatial ripple, nearly impossible to detect, remained behind.

The whole process had been as fast as an illusion! From appearing to vanishing, it had taken less than a breath!

On the ruins, Tang Hao was fully focused on suppressing the chaotic energy within Tang San. Yet a minute fluctuation seemed to pass through the depths of his molten-gold pupils, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Just now... had he sensed an extremely faint fluctuation of Soul Power carrying the aura of judgment and destruction, only for it to vanish immediately? Was it an illusion? Or had... that Poison Douluo returned?

His gaze swept over the crater's edge as sharply as an eagle's, across the scattered fragments and poisonous blood, but he found nothing visibly unusual. Several inconspicuous broken limbs were mixed among countless fragments and naturally attracted no attention at all.

"Cough..." Tang San coughed out another mouthful of congealed blood with a Dark Gold tint. His aura was weak, and the resentment in his eyes had nearly become tangible. "Dad... my soul ring... and... I feel like... something very important... was taken from me..." A powerful sense of emptiness, as though a piece of flesh had been forcibly carved from his heart, tightly gripped him.

Tang Hao withdrew his gaze and looked at his son's pale, pained face and mangled hands. The killing intent in his eyes intensified. He suppressed that faint doubt and said in a deep voice, "Leave this place first! Your injuries must be treated immediately! The soul ring... can be found again! As for that Old Poison... and that rat hiding in the shadows... Hmph!"

He picked up the weakened Tang San and, together with the still-shaken Xiao Wu, turned into a streak of light and swiftly disappeared into the depths of Star Dou Forest. The ruins returned to deathly silence, with only the enormous crater and scattered fragments silently recounting the shocking change just now and the quiet success of a "fisherman" who had profited from the chaos.

Deep within the dense forest, in a hidden cave far from the explosion site.

Ling Feng sat cross-legged, and he had cleverly sealed the cave entrance with huge rocks and vines. The cave was dimly lit. Only the several Dark Gold broken spider spear limbs resting quietly on the ground before him gave off a faint, cold glow.

He extended his right hand. Holy golden light unique to the Judgment Angel and a trace of destructive black radiance wound around his fingertips as he carefully touched one of the broken limbs.

Buzz—!

At the instant his fingertip made contact!

A sudden change erupted!

The Dark Gold broken spider spear limb seemed to have been infused with life, suddenly trembling violently! An incomparably violent and greedy ferocious aura, filled with chaotic desire to devour, erupted from it like a burst flood! The eerie light at its broken end blazed brightly, and countless fine Dark Gold energy threads shot out madly like living things. Carrying intense corrosive and piercing force, they stabbed viciously toward Ling Feng's finger! At the same time, an icy and sinister Mental Shock, accompanied by countless chaotic and violent fragments of intent belonging to the self-destructed demon spider's resentment, stabbed ruthlessly into Ling Feng's mind like sharp needles!

"Hmph! Mere residual thoughts from a dead thing, and you dare devour your master?!" Ling Feng's eyes turned sharp. Rather than retreating, he snorted coldly as the Soul Power within his body erupted like a volcano!

"Will of Judgment, suppress!"

Boom—!

Vast, majestic Judgment Soul Power containing the dual concepts of sacred judgment and absolute destruction surged from his body like a golden tidal wave, violently washing over the several restless broken spider spear limbs! Wherever the sacred golden light reached, the wildly extending Dark Gold threads emitted miserable sizzling cries as though encountering their nemesis, rapidly dissolving and withdrawing! The destructive black radiance, meanwhile, crushed the chaotic fragments of resentment directly like the most tyrannical sovereign!

God-Tier Choice triggered!

Detected intense rejection and backlash from the External Soul Bone—Eight Spider Lances, incomplete embryonic form!

Option one: Forcefully refine it with Judgment Divine Power, erase its ferocity, and forge the "Spear of Judgment." Reward: Soul bone compatibility +30%. Gain traits: "Sacred Evil-Breaking" and "Destructive Pierce." Risk: Soul bone potential will be damaged, and its ability to evolve may be lost.

Option two: Guide its devouring nature and use the origin of destruction to contain its ferocious balefulness, forging the "God Devouring Spider Spear." Reward: Soul bone potential fully retained. Gain traits: "Devour and Evolve" and "Corrosive Poison." Risk: Ferocious backlash will intensify and may affect the mind. Must constantly suppress it with the Will of Judgment.

Option three: Temporarily seal it and deal with it later. Reward: Random immortal herb ×1.

The cold options appeared in his mind. Ling Feng's eyes were sharp as blades as they swept over the Dark Gold broken limbs on the ground, which still trembled and emitted a ferocious aura. Erasing their ferocity would certainly be safer, but without the potential to Devour and Evolve, the value of the Eight Spider Lances would be greatly diminished! Sealing them was even less acceptable! What he wanted was this fierce weapon that could grow alongside him!

"Option two!" Ling Feng's will was as hard as iron, carrying unquestionable resolve! Would he, Ling Feng, fear the ferocious balefulness of a mere soul bone? What he wanted was a God Devouring Spear that could devour all things and evolve itself! Ferocious balefulness? It would make perfect nourishment for the origin of destruction!

"In my name, let judgment guide, destruction—