Man Faced Demon Spider

Early the next morning, Wu Changkong brought the cadets of Class Zero to the East Sea Spirit Receiving Pagoda.

Before entering, Wu Changkong instructed them, "Remember, the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform allows the greatest number of people to enter at once. Aside from each other, everyone inside may be an enemy. You only need to do one thing: survive as long as possible. If you fail to last more than three hours, you will be punished."

Xie Xie asked curiously, "Punished? What punishment?"

"Your vacation will be canceled." Wu Changkong's voice was somewhat cold.

They took the elevator down to the familiar underground hall. Wu Changkong handed out several Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform Access Cards, and under the Spirit Receiver's guidance, they arrived at a familiar room.

Since Eastsea Academy was the only intermediate and advanced academy in Eastsea City and had extensive cooperation with the Spirit Pagoda, this room had been specially set up by the Spirit Pagoda as their infusion room.

The Spirit Receiver said, "This isn't your first time entering the Spirit Ascension Platform, so you already understand the basic situation inside. The Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform is extremely dangerous. I believe your teacher has already explained it to you. I won't say much more. If you encounter any dangerous situation, be sure to withdraw immediately."

Seeing them nod, the Spirit Receiver summoned the metal cabinets and had them lie down inside. He then inserted several cards into their designated slots. Only these cards could ensure that they would be transported to the same location. Then he pressed the red button to activate the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform's protective system.

After a moment of blurred consciousness that soon cleared, they entered the Spirit Ascension Platform. The only difference from before was that they had appeared in the same place.

Tang Wulin looked around. His teammates were all beside him. He said in a low voice, "Formation."

They swiftly shifted positions. Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Zhang Yangzi, and Wang Jinxi each faced a different direction, surrounding Gu Yuena and An Ping in the middle.

Once they had formed up, An Ping said, "A Soul Beast is moving toward us directly ahead of Tang Wulin. Judging from its Soul Fluctuation, it isn't very strong."

Tang Wulin said, "I didn't expect to encounter a Soul Beast the moment we came in. Change formation and prepare for battle."

They quickly changed formation. Within seconds, a massive figure appeared before them. It was a gray-black ape-type Soul Beast with a pair of blood-red eyes.

After studying Soul Beast knowledge for so long, they could all tell that it was a century-level Iron Arm Ape. It was not an especially powerful Soul Beast. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie alone ended the battle at great speed.

Recovering their depleted Soul Power where they stood was not a good choice. The Spirit Ascension Platform's simulation was extremely realistic, and the corpse left behind by a Soul Beast would attract other Soul Beasts. They resumed their formation and chose a direction to relocate.

Maintaining good condition inside the Spirit Ascension Platform was extremely important, especially during the Riot Period. Their enemies were not only Soul Beasts, but Soul Masters as well. Only by remaining in peak condition at all times could they better deal with dangers that might arrive at any moment.

They found a relatively concealed spot, and Xie Xie and Tang Wulin began recovering their depleted Soul Power.

Before long, An Ping detected approaching Soul Masters through the feedback from his technique. He whispered, "Three Soul Masters have appeared on the left. They're heading directly toward our position."

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie swiftly got to their feet and entered combat readiness. Everyone looked in that direction. Through the gaps, they could vaguely see three people rapidly approaching.

It did not take long for the three of them to reach them. When they came before the group, Tang Wulin froze, then stepped forward and called out, "Senior Sister, I didn't expect it to be you."

"Mm, I didn't expect to run into you here either." After saying that, she led her two companions away in another direction.

"Senior Sister? Your senior sister is quite pretty. Is there something going on between you two?" Zhang Yangzi teased.

Tang Wulin shook his head. "She's my teacher's daughter. She doesn't seem to like me much, so we rarely interact."

Tang Wulin did not want to dwell on the matter. "All right, the terrain here is good for defense, and there aren't many Soul Beasts around. I think we can wait here for now. Let's first do our best to meet Teacher Wu's required survival time, then hunt Soul Beasts as much as we can. What do you think?"

Xie Xie said, "I'll listen to you. I don't want my vacation canceled."

At the mention of their vacation being canceled, the others nodded as well. They arranged themselves into formation and began waiting. Though they were waiting, the Soul Beasts in the Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform were more active, and Soul Beasts occasionally approached. However, none were particularly powerful, and with An Ping's perception, they encountered no danger.

"A large Soul Beast is rapidly approaching from Zhang Yangzi's direction. Prepare." Upon hearing An Ping's words, they hurriedly shifted formation and quickly moved toward the side with a better field of view.

A black figure was rapidly closing in. As it drew nearer, Wang Jinxi's body trembled. "Man Faced Demon Spider."

It was the very Man Faced Demon Spider that had dealt Wang Jinxi a mental blow during his first time entering the Spirit Ascension Platform. Its enormous body bore a bizarre human face on its abdomen, and its spear-like spider legs carried it toward them at tremendous speed.

Xie Xie asked, "Do we fight it?"

Seeing Tang Wulin hesitate, An Ping said, "Fight. It's too fast. We can't escape even if we run."

"Fine." Tang Wulin nodded.

As the distance closed, the spider's legs bent slightly before it leaped toward them. An Ping rapidly released a Wind Blade. With a crack, it only severed one of the spider legs it had raised in front of itself before dissipating powerlessly.

Tang Wulin swiftly hurled the Forging Hammer in his hand, which was wrapped in a strand of Blue Silver Grass. With a bang, it smashed into another spider leg the Man Faced Demon Spider had raised before itself.

The Man Faced Demon Spider, struck by the tremendous force while in midair, paused. Accompanied by a piercing shriek, it fell from the air toward the ground. Gu Yuena swiftly stirred the Wind Element and Fire Element in the air, forming a Flame Vortex beneath the Man Faced Demon Spider.

The Man Faced Demon Spider fell to the ground, staggered, then quickly braced itself with its spider legs to steady its body. Scorched by the flames, its cries became even more shrill, while its eyes stared coldly at them.

Wang Jinxi unleashed his First Soul Skill, Dark Sky Curtain, enveloping both the group and the Man Faced Demon Spider. Only those he had marked could retain their vision within the curtain.

The Man Faced Demon Spider lost its vision, but its abdomen quickly swelled slightly, spraying a mass of yellow-green light toward the group. As Ice Element fluctuations rippled out, Gu Yuena rapidly formed an Ice Wall, blocking the Spider Web just as it spread open. The Ice Wall hissed under the corrosive poison of the web.

Taking advantage of the fact that it had not yet retracted and protected its human face, An Ping released a Cutting Technique at it. Accompanied by an incomparably shrill scream, a large amount of yellow-green toxic blood gushed from the wound.

With a thud, the Man Faced Demon Spider collapsed to the ground. After twitching for a while longer, a ball of yellow spiritual light finally flew from its body. Seeing the spiritual light emerge, everyone let out a breath of relief.