Man Faced Demon Spider

"Don't worry, Lingling. You haven't seen Ayang's true strength yet. Once you do, you won't say something like that."

Dugu Yan spoke with complete confidence.

Along the way, it was not as if Dugu Yang had never made a move.

When they encountered that roughly Nine Hundred Year Black Wolf, Dugu Yang had acted once.

But although he had acted, he had merely secretly administered a little potent poison.

At least from Ye Lingling's perspective, Dugu Yan had still borne most of the pressure.

Perhaps Dugu Yan really did have the trait of a crow's beak. The moment she finished speaking, an unusual sound came from the forest to their left.

When they turned to look, they saw a strange giant spider emerging from the woods. Its main body was more than one and a half meters in diameter, while its eight spear-like legs exceeded three meters in length.

Its entire body was covered in black armor, and the tips of its legs were slender like spears. Its lower abdomen bore white markings that sharply contrasted with its black body, forming a vicious human face. Eight tiny eyes pressed tightly against its lower abdomen, glinting with an icy, sinister light.

"Man Faced Demon Spider!"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling cried out at the same time, their voices filled with shock.

The Man Faced Demon Spider was an exceptionally powerful Soul Beast. Its shell was hard, its eight spider legs were incredibly sharp, and they also granted it astonishing speed. Its webbing was tough and poisonous. More importantly, this Soul Beast possessed considerable combat intelligence. Even at the Hundred Year Level, it could contend against other Thousand Year Level Soul Beasts.

Not to mention that the Man Faced Demon Spider before them had already reached the Thousand Year Level. Even a Four-ring Soul Ancestor would find it difficult to stand against it.

A trace of confusion appeared in Dugu Yang's eyes as well. The Man Faced Demon Spider was an Evil Martial Soul Beast with extremely strong killing instincts and bore the terrifying title of the "Nightmare of Small Soul Beasts."

Under normal circumstances, Heaven Dou Royal Forest, a Soul Beast forest artificially maintained by the Heaven Dou Royal Family and Heaven Dou Academy, would never permit a Soul Beast killer like this to appear.

"It seems the academy staff will have to answer for this."

As Dugu Yang spoke, he stepped forward.

With Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's strength, fighting a Nine Hundred Year Level Soul Beast was already their limit. If they encountered a Thousand Year Soul Beast, their only option would be to flee in defeat.

Not to mention that this was a Thousand Year Level Man Faced Demon Spider.

Naturally, Dugu Yang had to step in.

At that moment, Ye Lingling's body was stiff and her legs had gone weak. If not for the breath of courage holding her up, she would probably have collapsed to the ground already.

There was no helping it. Even though she was a Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master, Ye Lingling was still only a twelve-year-old girl.

Especially when she faced such an evil and terrifying Man Faced Demon Spider.

For a moment, the shadow of death enveloped Ye Lingling's heart.

"Stay behind me."

A gentle voice rang out. When she turned, she saw Dugu Yang's handsome face.

"Dugu Yang, this..."

"Don't worry. It'll be fine."

Dugu Yang patted Ye Lingling's shoulder. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, revealing a reassuring smile.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound tore through the air as the Man Faced Demon Spider launched its attack.

As a Soul Beast—and an Evil Soul Beast with powerful killing instincts—the Man Faced Demon Spider had no concept of honor or propriety. Once it sensed an opportunity, it attacked directly.

Streams of white spider silk shot from its mouthparts, weaving into a massive web in midair as it attempted to ensnare Dugu Yang and Ye Lingling, who were closest to it, in one stroke.

Although Dugu Yang had been comforting Ye Lingling, his attention had remained fixed on the Man Faced Demon Spider.

The instant the Man Faced Demon Spider moved, Dugu Yang completed his Martial Soul Possession as well. He wrapped one arm around Ye Lingling's slender waist and swiftly retreated, narrowly avoiding the spider web's restraint.

Dugu Yang then brought Ye Lingling before Dugu Yan.

"Yanzi, take care of Lingling."

"Understood."

Dugu Yan nodded slightly. She knew her own strength; forcing herself into the battle would only hinder Dugu Yang.

"Ayang, be careful."

Dugu Yang smiled faintly and said,

"The one who should be careful is the Man Faced Demon Spider."

As soon as his words fell, Dugu Yang no longer concealed his strength. A terrifying Spirit Power Aura suddenly erupted from his body, and three Spirit Rings slowly rose beneath his feet.

Yellow, purple, black!

"A Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring?!"

When Ye Lingling saw Dugu Yang's Third Soul Ring, her eyes instantly widened, disbelief filling her beautiful gaze.

The shock brought by the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring was so great that Ye Lingling overlooked the fact that Dugu Yang's Second Spirit Ring was a Thousand Year Spirit Ring.

"Lingling, I told you long ago that Ayang's talent is beyond anything you could imagine!"

Dugu Yan said excitedly.

Dugu Yang had never shown his true strength before, and he had strictly forbidden Dugu Yan from telling anyone about his Spirit Rings. It had nearly stifled her to death.

Dugu Yang ignored the excited Dugu Yan. With a flash, his body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, charging toward the Man Faced Demon Spider.

When Dugu Yang revealed his true strength, not only was Ye Lingling shocked, but even the Man Faced Demon Spider was momentarily stunned.

As a Soul Beast, the Man Faced Demon Spider did not know what it meant for a Three-ring Soul Elder to possess a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring. However, the aura of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast leaking from the Spirit Ring itself stirred a faint fear in its heart.

A Hundred Year Level Man Faced Demon Spider could fight a Thousand Year Soul Beast, but a Thousand Year Level Man Faced Demon Spider was absolutely no match for a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast.

Unless it was a Nine Thousand Year Man Faced Demon Spider on the verge of breaking through.

Unfortunately, this Man Faced Demon Spider clearly was not.

And in that brief moment of hesitation, Dugu Yang had already rushed before the Man Faced Demon Spider.

Whoosh—

His savage, razor-sharp Dragon Claws tore through the air, emitting a piercing shriek.

The Man Faced Demon Spider reacted as well, hurriedly raising its slender, agile spider legs.

Clang—

With a crisp ring, sparks erupted where the Dragon Claws collided with the spider legs.

Dugu Yang had seized the initiative, and his physical strength was greater to begin with. After the clash, the Man Faced Demon Spider staggered backward repeatedly. It only stabilized itself after driving four spider legs into the ground.

"Again!"

Dugu Yang gave a low shout and charged forward once more, blazing Fighting Spirit burning in his black eyes.

Dugu Yang had refused to fight Yu Tianheng before not because he disliked battle, but because Yu Tianheng was too weak and simply not worth his effort.

But this Man Faced Demon Spider before him could at least let Dugu Yang enjoy himself a little.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Dragon Claws and spider legs collided fiercely. Man and spider fought on even terms.

Dugu Yang possessed greater strength, while the Man Faced Demon Spider was faster. For a short while, neither seemed able to do anything to the other.

"Hmm?"

Dugu Yang let out a soft sound of surprise and suddenly retreated.

He had sensed that something seemed wrong with his body.

"Heh, worthy of a Man Faced Demon Spider. It actually poisoned me."

Dugu Yang chuckled. In the battle just now, it appeared that they had merely engaged in close combat, with neither injuring the other. Yet during the fight, the Man Faced Demon Spider had silently administered potent poison to Dugu Yang.