"Our Soul Beast Clan has it so hard when it comes to cultivation. A hundred thousand years is already a massive hurdle, and we don't even have a path to godhood."
"The Sky Screen just said that as long as they survive in that world for a year, they can bring back treasures."
"If this Man Faced Demon Spider really can survive a year and bring back a cultivation method that can completely remake someone—or some heavenly treasure..."
Da Ming couldn't help letting out a long sigh.
"By then, our Soul Beast Clan might finally escape humanity's hunt and gain a path of our own to reach the heavens."
"So that spider absolutely mustn't die."
The two hundred-thousand-year overlords were now praying for a thousand-year spider they normally wouldn't have given a second glance.
At the same time, at Shrek Academy in the Heaven Dou Empire.
The atmosphere on the training grounds had shifted subtly.
Su Yuntao's death had frightened everyone badly.
But now that they saw the third explorer was a soul beast, their spirits lifted again.
"Everyone, look! That Demon Spider seems to be setting an ambush."
Ma Hongjun suddenly pointed at the Sky Screen and shouted.
On the screen, the Man Faced Demon Spider had already climbed a tree with practiced ease.
It spewed several clumps of grayish-white webbing from its rear. Using the surrounding white mist for cover, it laid a hidden trap among the branches.
Then it tucked itself behind the dense leaves and hid without moving.
Seeing this, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang regained his confidence.
With his hands behind his back, he paced twice in front of everyone, a smug smile on his face.
"This is the survival wisdom of soul beasts."
Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat and began his analysis.
"Don't be fooled by the fact that this is only a thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider. Its overall combat strength can absolutely rival that of a human Soul Ancestor above level forty."
"Besides, Demon Spiders are born knowing how to disguise themselves and assassinate their prey."
"Its shell is as hard as iron. Ordinary blades and swords can't even cut through it."
"Its web is not only extremely sticky, but poisonous as well."
As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang turned to look at Flender and Zhao Wuji.
"The reason that Hengyue Sect disciple from the Renegade Immortal World was able to kill Su Yuntao instantly was simply that his spells were bizarre."
"But Su Yuntao was only a level-twenty-six weakling. How could he compare to a thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider?"
Zhao Wuji, standing nearby, stroked his chin and chimed in. "Grandmaster has a point."
"That Demon Spider is incredibly fast. If it ambushed me from the shadows, even I, a Soul Saint with high defense and plenty of health, could get caught off guard."
"Especially in a misty valley like this, where visibility is so poor."
At the sound of agreement, Yu Xiaogang's smile grew even wider.
He raised a finger and pointed at the sky. "That's why this is the real test for the Renegade Immortal World."
"I want to see if the people of that world can deal with this kind of soul beast as easily as they did before."
"If the Demon Spider manages to hunt down a few local creatures, then that world's defenses are nothing special."
"Our high-level Soul Masters from Douluo Continent will be perfectly capable of establishing ourselves there!"
Hearing Grandmaster's forceful words, the people of Shrek Academy gradually felt reassured.
That was right. Su Yuntao was too weak to represent Douluo Continent's true strength.
This Man Faced Demon Spider was the real test of the Renegade Immortal World.
Everyone raised their heads and stared eagerly at the Sky Screen, waiting for the show to begin.
At that moment, inside the Pope Palace in Spirit City.
Bibi Dong had returned to the papal throne.
She rested her chin on one hand, her beautiful eyes flickering with an unreadable light.
Below the steps, Ghost Douluo Gui Mei was bent forward, giving a detailed report.
"Your Holiness, I've encountered Man Faced Demon Spiders a few times in the past."
Gui Mei's voice sounded like two sheets of sandpaper rubbing together, grating on the ears.
"These soul beasts are vicious by nature and hold grudges. The most troublesome thing is that their venom is highly corrosive."
"Even for a Titled Douluo like me, if I accidentally came into contact with their venom, it would take considerable effort to force it out."
Bibi Dong nodded slightly, her face expressionless.
She was making her own calculations.
Su Yuntao had died too quickly. She hadn't been able to see how much strength the Cultivation World truly possessed.
Now the explorer was a soul beast with greater resilience and more insidious methods. That made it a perfect chance to probe for more useful information.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, standing beside Gui Mei, raised his orchid-like fingers and spoke in a shrill voice. "Your Holiness, look at the Sky Screen."
"That little thing is hiding incredibly well."
"If the Sky Screen weren't following it around, even I wouldn't have noticed such a big fellow lurking behind those leaves."
"I think that unless it runs into another freak who can use flying swords, that spider will be able to run wild through the valley."
Just then, light footsteps sounded outside the hall.
The Golden Generation of Spirit Hall—Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan—hurried into the hall.
"Teacher." Hu Liena respectfully bowed, then turned her gaze to the Sky Screen suspended in the air.
She looked at the gray, mist-shrouded valley, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Teacher, the environment in that Renegade Immortal World seems unusual."
Hu Liena analyzed, "The place where Su Yuntao descended was full of spiritual energy, with birds singing and flowers blooming."
"But where this Demon Spider landed, there's nothing but deathly air and miasma."
"That means that world isn't just vast; it probably has all kinds of dangerous regions."
Bibi Dong gave her beloved disciple an approving glance.
"Nana is right."
"That's what concerns me most. That world has orthodox cultivation sects, so it must also have unorthodox paths."
"The place where this Demon Spider is now is clearly no safe haven."
Bibi Dong tapped her staff lightly against the floor, producing a crisp sound.
"Send word. Have the people in the Worship Hall come out and watch as well."
"No one is to miss this Man Faced Demon Spider's broadcast."
"I want to see with my own eyes whether a world that can leave a Soul Grandmaster utterly helpless can withstand the assassination of a thousand-year soul beast!"
While all the factions of Douluo Continent were eagerly waiting for the Man Faced Demon Spider to show off its power,
the scene on the Sky Screen finally stirred.
From deep within the valley's white mist came the faint sound of footsteps.
"Rustle, rustle..."
The sound wasn't loud, but in the quiet valley, it rang out with particular clarity.
The Man Faced Demon Spider hiding in the treetop immediately perked up, all eight of its compound eyes shifting at once.
Prey was coming.
The Demon Spider adjusted its position slightly. Its eight long legs clamped tightly around the tree trunk, ready to spring at any moment.
Following the Demon Spider's point of view, the spectators on Douluo Continent finally got a clear look at the newcomer.
He was a young man in a black robe.
His face was deathly pale, without a trace of color, making him look as though he were gravely ill.
He walked slowly, one step at a time.
The strangest thing was that he was carrying a pitch-black wooden coffin on his back.
The coffin looked heavy, but the young man carried it without even breathing hard.
He ambled along the narrow path through the valley, completely unaware that a pair of vicious eyes was watching him from among the leaves above.
"Who is that? Why's he wandering around in broad daylight with a coffin on his back?"
At Shrek Academy, Ma Hongjun couldn't help shrinking his neck. The sight gave him the creeps.
"Who cares who he is? He looks so weak he probably couldn't even withstand one hit from that Demon Spider." Dai Mubai sneered.
On the screen, the black-robed youth carrying the coffin had just reached the base of the tree where the Demon Spider was hiding.
Now!
The Man Faced Demon Spider didn't hesitate.
Instinctively, it loosened its long legs from the trunk.
Its massive body dropped like a boulder from the sky, carrying a stench-filled gust of wind as it crashed toward the young man below.
At the same time, its rear contracted sharply.
A huge grayish-white web, dripping with venom, shot out at once, spreading over the young man like a canopy.
The two attacks came fast and vicious.
Once caught in that venomous web, even a Soul King from Douluo Continent wouldn't be able to break free right away.
Then the Demon Spider's sharp legs would pierce straight through its victim.
Watching the perfect ambush, Yu Xiaogang was already itching to clap from the training grounds.
But just as the venomous web was about to land on the young man's head,
the black-robed youth carrying the coffin suddenly stopped.
Then he slowly raised his right hand and casually snapped his fingers in midair.
"Snap."
A sharp crack rang out. The next moment, the lid of the black coffin on his back slid open a crack for no apparent reason.