Questioning Under Fear

"You want to keep living?"

Linsey approached the Corrupted Poison Spider.

The dangerous creature was unable to move at this moment, but it still immediately replied:

"I want to live!"

"I'll give you whatever you want."

Linsey was quite satisfied with this honest and cooperative attitude:

"I'd gladly trade my treasure for your life, but before that, I have a few questions for you."

The hatchling spider replied with all its might, "Ask away!"

Linsey then began her own questioning:

"My first question is, did you establish your nest here on the orders of the Dragon Beast?"

"That's right, it made me live here with the spiders to monitor the borderlands of the world."

"My second question is, how is that Dragon Beast progressing?"

"If all goes well, we will succeed in a few thousand more days and months."

"How can you guarantee that your answer is true? You are supposed to be loyal to that Dragon Beast, and you just told me its information so easily?"

"I just want to live!"

"To pledge allegiance to it is to submit to force, and to have Essence extracted. I am not willing to accept this!"

"..."

Linsey raised an eyebrow.

All of his previous questions were probes into the Corrupted Poison Spider's intentions.

Moreover, judging from the Corrupted Poison Spider's response, the Devil Beast of Black Mountain are probably not very satisfied with this ruler who is so eager to advance.

Linsey's expression became very interested.

Meanwhile, after the previous questions, the Corrupted Poison Spider seemed to have grasped something.

It spoke up on its own initiative:

"If I survive, I can help you defeat that Dragon Beast!"

Linsey ignored him and continued asking at her own pace, "There are many spiders in the forest, enough to completely prevent those Devil Beast from reaching the World Boundary. Why did you let them pass?"

With her life in someone else's hands, the Corrupted Poison Spider had no choice but to abandon its seductive tactics and continue answering:

"This is an order, an order from the Dragon Beast."

"It doesn't allow me to expand my territory, and it always requires that some fish escape the net."

The Dragon Beast demands that the Corrupted Poison Spider spare these animals.

Linsey frowned, somewhat puzzled.

This command from the Dragon Beast.

The only possible outcome is that some lucky Devil Beast escape to the Hidden Borderlands and indirectly inform humans of the changes happening here.

Eager to break through, it had absolutely no reason to let something that would expose it happen! "What is the reason behind the Dragon Beast's order?"

"I have no idea."

Linsey's persistent questioning resulted in a disappointing answer.

He stared intently into the Corrupted Poison Spider's crimson eyes, but no emotion could be discerned from those inhuman pupils.

Linsey had no choice but to give up on getting to the bottom of things and changed her question.

"What dangerous Devil Beast lie along the way from here to Black Mountain, and how many of them were personally assigned by the Dragon Beast?"

"I know that in the future, there will be a Tree Mother, who is the mother of the Tree Spirit."

The Corrupted Poison Spider provides a rather useful answer.

Moreover, to increase its chances of survival, it added a further explanation after this answer, "It's very strong, much stronger than me."

"You are no match for him, you must be careful."

Linsey asked:

"Since she is so strong, in what aspects is she strong?"

The Corrupted Poison Spider answered honestly:

"I don't know, but her Essence is much more than mine, which makes the spider much more desperate."

"Human, do not challenge her."

"..."

Linsey felt a little nauseous.

Although I knew the other party was begging for mercy, I was still bothered by the hypocritical concern of a huge, yellow-green spider.

As expected, it still caused physical discomfort.

Linsey continued to ask:

"Was that Tree Mother also forced to pledge allegiance by the Dragon Beast?"

The Corrupted Poison Spider quickly replied:

"I don't know, but I think so."

"..."

Linsey thought for a moment.

The Tree Spirit that previously drove the Ice Badger to attack the town was a Fourth Stage Devil Beast.

According to the Corrupted Poison Spider in front of us.

The Tree Mother, as the mother of all Tree Spirit, was clearly stronger than it, but it was subservient to the Dragon Beast.

It can only be a Sixth Stage Devil Beast.

In the classification of Awakened Ones' abilities, before the Fifth Stage, the growth of strength is a gradual and orderly process. But once you reach the Fifth Stage, and even the sixth and Seventh Stage, each advancement is a life-changing leap! If there is a Sixth Stage Tree Mother blocking your way.

Linsey will encounter a lot of trouble halfway through this trip.

"At times like this, we can only react to whatever comes our way."

Linsey murmured to herself, then continued to ask, "How large is the territory of that Tree Mother?"

"Very big, extremely big."

"How long would it take to cross in a straight line? Is it possible to go around it? If so, how long would it take?"

"If you go straight through, it will take 100 sunrises and sunsets; if you go around, it will take hundreds of sunrises and sunsets."

Linsey confirmed one thing once again: he was now embarking on a journey that would take him across the entire world.

This can be gleaned from the timing of the Corrupted Poison Spider's report.

"I don't have that much time to waste."

Linsey shook her head regretfully. It seemed that another formidable enemy had been added to the list of those she needed to eliminate.

He then changed the subject. "Besides that Tree Mother, what other dangerous creatures do you know?"

This time, the news about the Corrupted Poison Spider was disappointing.

"I have no idea."

Left with no other option, Linsey had to change the subject again. "Since that Dragon Beast forced you to help it advance, there must be other rebels in this world, right?"

The Corrupted Poison Spider's answer was as expected, "Yes, but they have been wiped out."

Linsey pressed, "They're all dead, not a single one left?"

After this period of interrogation.

The Fifth Stage of the Corrupted Poison Spider were gradually intensified by Linsey's [Spider Fear Breaker].

It dares not lie at all.

Even in the content of the answer, there was not a single ambiguous word:

"There may still be some scattered individuals barely clinging to life."

"But in the Black Mountain World, they are now very difficult to find."

"..."

At this point, Linsey realized that she seemed to have no more questions to ask.

Given the range of this Corrupted Poison Spider's activity, he had already obtained enough information.

Moreover, this inquiry was a spur-of-the-moment decision. It would be unrealistic to expect to find out the Dragon Beast's weaknesses or other specific clues from this spider.

"Is there anything else you want to ask...?"

Linsey raised an eyebrow.

At the same time, they noticed that the humans in front of them seemed to be stopping their questioning.

Instead, the Corrupted Poison Spider eagerly said, "Human, you haven't asked about the location of the treasure yet. Can our deal continue?"

"I am a person who keeps my promises."

Linsey nodded, then drew her bow and arrow once more, the sharp, flame-wreathed arrowhead pointing at the Corrupted Poison Spider's head:

"I won't ask about the location of the treasure."

"However, I will take your life as well."