Poor Meng Yiran

The moment those sixteen crossbow bolts sank into the Man Faced Demon Spider's abdomen, its body, covered in black armor, suddenly stiffened.

Then its entire body abruptly rolled over, thrashing violently across the ground.

Purple light, blue fluid, and the Man Faced Demon Spider's black body writhed and churned madly across the ground.

Fragile plants were instantly corroded. Even towering trees shattered the moment its body crashed into them.

Within dozens of square meters, everything was in ruins. Not a single plant remained intact.

After rolling more than ten meters away, Tang San did not stop. Enduring the weakness in his body, he quickly withdrew from the Man Faced Demon Spider's attack range.

The Man Faced Demon Spider's thrashing gradually grew weaker. Its armor was covered in a layer of bluish-purple light, while purple-black liquid continuously flowed from the wounds around its eight eyes. It was clearly not going to survive.

Only then did Tang San let out a breath of relief and slowly sit down with his back against a tree.

As the Man Faced Demon Spider's life gradually ebbed away, specks of bluish-purple light began gathering above its body. It was time to absorb the Soul Ring.

But then, three unwelcome guests appeared.

They were three Soul Masters, and Tang San knew two of them.

They were Snake Woman Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran, whom he had parted ways with not long ago.

The third person beside them was a tall, thin old man.

The old man looked to be at least seventy years old. Like Chao Tianxiang, he had a full head of silver hair.

In his hand was a Dragon Head Crutch more than four meters long, gleaming bright silver.

The dragon head at its tip looked lifelike and exceptionally magnificent.

Eight Soul Rings pulsed up and down around his body.

Two yellow, three purple, three black.

Though the quality of his Soul Rings was slightly inferior to Zhao Wuji's, with one more thousand-year Soul Ring, he had eight Soul Rings.

That represented the cultivation of a Soul Douluo above level eighty.

There was no need to ask. Tang San knew who this man was—the Snake Woman's husband, Meng Yiran's grandfather, Dragon Duke Meng Shu.

At last, this family of three had gathered together. Dragon Duke did not even need to release his Soul Power; the eight Soul Rings around him alone made Tang San feel as though he could barely breathe.

Let alone Tang San being alone here, even if Zhao Wuji and the others were present, they would still be at an absolute disadvantage.

When the Peerless Dragon Serpent family arrived, they did not notice Tang San sitting on the ground in the distance.

Their attention immediately fell upon the dead Man Faced Demon Spider, and their expressions changed drastically.

Meng Yiran cried out, "No, how could this happen?

Why? Why? Who was it? Who killed my Demon Spider?"

Meng Yiran had changed into a dark green fitted outfit, making her look heroic and valiant.

But Tang San was in no mood to admire her now.

Hearing Meng Yiran's words, he could not help but smile bitterly to himself. It could not possibly be this much of a coincidence, could it?

Yet some things might never happen even once in a lifetime, but when fate decided to toy with someone, they could happen twice in quick succession.

Tang San naturally did not expect this family to fail to notice him. With Dragon Duke's Soul Power, all he needed was a moment of focus to hear Tang San's breathing, perhaps even his heartbeat.

Running was definitely not an option, and Tang San had no intention of running.

A true man dared to take responsibility for his actions. Ever since Xiao Wu had been taken away, his mentality had changed somewhat.

Along with ruthlessness, there was now a trace of resolve.

"I killed it."

Tang San had only just regained a little strength. Supporting himself against the tree beside him, he barely managed to stand.

Tang San's voice immediately drew the Peerless Dragon Serpent family's attention. When Meng Yiran saw his bedraggled state, she first froze, then her eyes reddened.

"You... you... you... it's you again."

Tang San smiled bitterly. "Sorry, I don't know why it's such a coincidence.

But this time, it really was me again.

Could this Man Faced Demon Spider also have been your prey?"

Meng Yiran stared at Tang San, her pretty face flushed crimson. She was clearly furious beyond measure.

When Chao Tianxiang saw Tang San, she too frowned and quietly said something into Dragon Duke's ear.

"You are Tang San?" Dragon Duke Meng Shu said coldly. His voice was clear and did not sound like it belonged to an old man at all.

Tang San nodded.

Meng Shu said, "Do you know that we spent an entire day pursuing this Man Faced Demon Spider?

If its spiderweb had not been so troublesome, it would have become Yiran's Soul Ring long ago.

Man Faced Demon Spiders are extremely rare because other Soul Beasts cannot tolerate them.

Even in the Star Dou Great Forest, they are seldom seen."

Far more precious than a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent."

Tang San's face was utterly bloodless, yet he showed not the slightest fear as he said calmly, "I know everything you said. But I had to defend myself.

A Man Faced Demon Spider suddenly appeared before me—was I supposed to let it kill me?"

Meng Shu frowned. "Are you saying you killed this Man Faced Demon Spider by yourself?"

Tang San nodded firmly.

Dragon Duke and Snake Woman exchanged a glance, each seeing the surprise in the other's eyes.

Though the Man Faced Demon Spider was not an exceptionally powerful spirit beast, among thousand-year spirit beasts, its offensive power was unquestionably among the best.

Even without its web, its attack and defense were formidable. Yet it had been hunted by this child barely in his teens—it was truly difficult for the elderly couple to comprehend.

Snake Woman had already held Tang San in high regard, but now she had no choice but to raise her assessment of him even further.

When Meng Yiran had lost to Tang San earlier, Snake Woman had been somewhat unconvinced. But now, she had to admit that her granddaughter was likely no match for the youth before them.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu flicked his Dragon Head Crutch, sending a strand of Soul Power from its tip to flip over the Man Faced Demon Spider's body.

At a glance, he saw its eight eyes, already smashed to pulp, and could not help nodding inwardly.

Though he did not know how Tang San had accomplished it, the fact that he had struck the Man Faced Demon Spider's vital weak point showed just how calm this youth was when facing a powerful enemy.

When Meng Shu looked at Tang San again, a trace of admiration appeared in his eyes.

"Grandfather, you have to stand up for me!"

Meng Yiran was still only a sixteen-year-old girl. The powerful Soul Ring that had nearly been hers had slipped away again, and it had once more been ruined by the same person. How could she possibly restrain the rage in her heart?

Meng Shu stroked his granddaughter's head, signaling for her to calm down.

He raised his head and said to Tang San, "Tang San, I, Dragon Duke Meng Shu, have traveled the world of Soul Masters for many years. I am not an unreasonable man.

When facing a Man Faced Demon Spider, anyone would need to defend themselves. So it is understandable that you killed it.

However, you have now ruined my granddaughter's chance to obtain a Soul Ring twice. That cannot simply be let go.

Therefore, I will now give you two choices."

"May I ask what these two choices are, Senior?"

"It is very simple. The first choice is for you to join my family and become one of us.

Since we would then be family, we can let go of the matter of you twice preventing Yiran from obtaining a Soul Ring, as well as wasting this precious Man Faced Demon Spider Soul Ring."

"I'm sorry, Senior, but if you do not want to get your granddaughter killed, I advise you not to let Meng Yiran absorb this Soul Ring."

Before his words had even faded, a handsome figure clad in Golden Armor appeared. It was Bai Ge, who had arrived using Teleportation.