Fang Qingshan reached out and touched the Dream-Weaving Spider Duan Fan had drawn, clearly feeling the chill of its carapace.
If he hadn't watched Duan Fan draw it with his own eyes, he might have thought the spider before him was a real Soul Beast.
Fang Qingshan smiled in satisfaction. "Life from the Brush. That's a great name."
"This is the first time I've ever seen a Soul Skill like this!"
Duan Fan said, "Uncle, didn't you guess what kind of Soul Skill I might get after absorbing the Dream-Weaving Spider's Soul Ring?"
"This is basically exactly what you predicted."
Fang Qingshan gently patted the Dream-Weaving Spider and smiled. "That was only a guess. It's completely different from seeing it for real."
"Besides, what you drew isn't an ordinary spider. It's a Dream-Weaving Spider, capable of weaving."
"Judging by its size, if it were a real Dream-Weaving Spider Soul Beast, it would be at least six hundred years old."
"Drawing a Soul Beast like this must have consumed quite a lot of your Soul Power, right?"
Duan Fan said, "It did consume quite a lot. I can draw two more at most."
Fang Qingshan's eyes widened. "You can draw two more?!"
"How long can you keep it around?"
Duan Fan thought for a moment. "For as long as I want. I can make it disappear whenever I like, or it can be killed."
Fang Qingshan said, "It's normal that it can't last very long. After all..."
"Wait! What did you say? For as long as you want?!"
"Is this really just your first Soul Skill? It completely exceeds the strength a first Soul Skill should have!"
Seeing Fang Qingshan's dumbfounded expression, Duan Fan smiled sheepishly. "It does seem a little powerful."
"Maybe it's because Dream-Weaving Spiders are special Soul Beasts, and they happen to be a perfect match for my Martial Soul."
How could Duan Fan honestly tell Fang Qingshan that his first Soul Skill was so powerful because his Martial Soul, the Fantasy Pen, was so powerful?
And even with this level of strength, Duan Fan still wasn't entirely satisfied.
He'd thought that after obtaining his first Soul Skill, he'd be able to draw anything. But it turned out he could only draw spiders.
Even so, Fang Qingshan's reactions made it clear that this Soul Skill was already ridiculously powerful.
What kind of person could summon three Soul Beasts around six hundred years old with their first Soul Skill, have all three fight using their skills, then weave and create three even bigger spiders?
It took Fang Qingshan a good while to recover from his shock.
"I'll record your case as a special one. Who would've thought the Dream-Weaving Spider and the Writing Brush Martial Soul could produce such an outrageous effect? It's completely changed how I understand first Soul Skills."
"I'd like to test how strong your Dream-Weaving Spider is. Is that all right?"
Duan Fan said, "Of course."
"Then come over here!"
Fang Qingshan pointed to an open patch of ground nearby, then activated his Martial Soul.
All other emotions had vanished from Fang Qingshan's eyes. Now, they held only an eager desire to study the data.
Duan Fan immediately controlled the Dream-Weaving Spider and sent it into the open space. Before long, it was fighting Fang Qingshan, who had activated Martial Soul Possession.
Fang Qingshan fought just as simply and brutally as he had during the day. After using his first and second Soul Skills, he did only one thing: charge.
Though the Dream-Weaving Spider Duan Fan had drawn was as big as a table, it still couldn't withstand Fang Qingshan's repeated charges.
In the blink of an eye, it was sent flying, its carapace cracking apart.
Instead of leaking gray fluid like a real Dream-Weaving Spider, it gave off a silvery-white glow.
At the same time, its body faded slightly.
It seemed that one more hit from Fang Qingshan would make it disappear entirely.
Fang Qingshan seemed eager to test the Dream-Weaving Spider's limits, so he charged at it again.
The Dream-Weaving Spider was sent flying once more, dissolving into silver light in midair.
Fang Qingshan recalled his Martial Soul and hurried over to Duan Fan, asking with concern, "I took out the Dream-Weaving Spider you drew. Did it affect you at all?"
Duan Fan shook his head. "No."
Fang Qingshan let out a breath of relief. "Good."
"I've tested it just now. The Dream-Weaving Spider you drew really does have the strength of a Soul Beast around six hundred years old. Impressive!"
"If you summoned three of these at once, even I'd have a hard time dealing with them."
"Especially since the Dream-Weaving Spider can weave and create more spiders."
As he spoke, Fang Qingshan looked at the spiders the Dream-Weaving Spider had made, then added, "I'll test their strength too!"
A short while later, Fang Qingshan had his answer. "They seem to have the strength of Soul Beasts around six hundred and fifty years old."
"Your first Soul Skill is terrifying!"
Duan Fan smiled and agreed. "I think so too."
Actually, Duan Fan's own assessment was that it was pretty decent.
He'd expected to draw bald men, but all he could draw were spiders.
Well, he'd make do with it.
"It should be light in about an hour. Then we'll leave the Soul Hunting Forest."
Fang Qingshan glanced at the still-burning fire and said, "Xiaofan, do you want to cultivate a bit more? Or you could lean against that dead tree and sleep for a while."
"I won't sleep. I'll cultivate for a while."
Duan Fan sat cross-legged by the fire and began meditating.
Though he appeared calm, he was rather surprised inside.
It'd be light in an hour?
Had absorbing his first Soul Ring really taken that long? He'd thought it was still nighttime, but it was already the middle of the night.
He wondered how things were going with Tang San.
Never mind. He'd check tomorrow during the day. If he looked now, Tang San was probably asleep too.
Duan Fan cast aside his wandering thoughts and focused on meditating.
The hour passed quickly.
This was Duan Fan's first time cultivating after obtaining his first Soul Ring.
Compared with how he'd cultivated before obtaining a Soul Ring, his current cultivation speed was clearly faster.
So, cultivating without a Soul Ring was possible, but it limited one's speed.
When it was time to advance, he really did need to do so as soon as possible.
As soon as the sky brightened, Fang Qingshan led Duan Fan out of the Soul Hunting Forest.
Since they were already near the forest's outskirts, they encountered no danger or surprises on the way out. Their departure went just as smoothly as their arrival.
The carriage they'd left outside the market was still there. They climbed aboard and set off for Notting City.
On the way back, Duan Fan checked on Tang San.
As usual, Tang San had gotten up early. He was already on the hill, cultivating his Purple Demon Eye and Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Duan Fan couldn't help admiring him. "Seriously, man? Do you have to be this disciplined? Your father's already run off, and you can still calmly cultivate every day?"
"You're making me feel bad about taking a break!"
Duan Fan had been planning to enjoy a good sleep, but after seeing how hard Tang San was working, he gave up on the idea.
Forget sleeping!
Morning was the perfect time to cultivate!
By the time Duan Fan finished cultivating, it was already noon.
He was about to check on Tang San again, hoping to find an opportunity to change his fate.
Suddenly, a long-awaited system notification appeared—
[Modification successful! Tang San has attracted Spirit Hall's attention. His path of growth will undergo a major change!]
[Reward: Eye of Insight; Modification Chance *1!]
"The reward for changing Tang San's fate through Su Yuntao has finally arrived!"
"But why does this modification-success notification sound so strange?"
For once, Duan Fan didn't immediately focus on his reward. Instead, he carefully reread the success notification.
"Having Tang San attract Spirit Hall's attention was exactly what I wanted."
"But what does it mean that his path of growth will change? Wasn't he supposed to be in danger?"
"Could Tang San be joining Spirit Hall?"
Before you continue