Liu Erlong's Shock, Human-Faced Demon Spider

Liu Erlong was not a woman to dither; since she had accepted Ling Feng's gift, she saw no reason to act coy.

She opened the medicine box with a brisk motion, revealing a golden, fist-sized melon.

To call it a melon felt slightly inaccurate, yet the medicinal fragrance it emitted deeply captivated Liu Erlong.

"This medicinal herb!" Liu Erlong felt her Spirit pulse with excitement.

Ling Feng said, "This herb is called the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. It is extremely rare and can only be found in very specific locations."

"It can enhance your overall strength, including your Spirit, Spirit Power, and physical constitution."

Hearing that this herb possessed so many benefits, Liu Erlong was deeply moved.

Ever since her mother passed away, Ling Feng was the first person to treat her with such kindness.

She did not offer any platitudes about being unworthy or try to return it to Ling Feng; instead, she secretly resolved to repay him well in the future.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

"This herb is so heavy—heavier than a block of gold!" Liu Erlong exclaimed in surprise.

She picked up the Earth Dragon Golden Melon to consume it directly, while Ling Feng stood up to close the doors and windows of her room.

Before long, Liu Erlong felt a heavy, potent force surging throughout her entire body.

This energy was tempering her physique, elevating her Spirit Power, and transforming her Spirit.

Soon, a dragon's roar emanated from within her, and Liu Erlong's Spirit Power began to break through its limits.

She had not expected the medicinal potency of a single herb to be so terrifying.

Liu Erlong hurriedly sat cross-legged on the floor to guide and digest the energy, gradually becoming so immersed that she lost all perception of the outside world.

Two days later, Liu Erlong finally woke up.

She opened her eyes, the joy on her face nearly overflowing.

"How are you? Do you feel any discomfort?" Ling Feng asked with concern.

Although he knew the immortal herb had no harmful effects, no one had ever consumed an Earth Dragon Golden Melon before, so the consequences were unknown.

Letting Liu Erlong consume it had been a bit of a gamble.

"I feel great—better than ever before!" Liu Erlong said.

"My Spirit Power has broken through to level forty-seven, and I feel as though I have developed a connection with the earth."

"Oh? A connection with the earth?" Ling Feng asked.

"Yes, I feel as if I am one with the ground beneath me, and I can borrow strength from it," Liu Erlong said excitedly.

Liu Erlong realized that such a massive change meant this was no ordinary herb.

However, since Ling Feng did not elaborate, she assumed the herb involved some secrets and chose not to ask.

"The effects of this herb are far superior to that whale glue; it must be an incredibly precious treasure."

"That Ten-thousand-year Whale Glue costs tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins, so this herb is likely worth hundreds of thousands at the very least."

This debt of gratitude is too heavy; I must not forget it! Liu Erlong thought to herself.

Ling Feng nodded, thinking, Level forty-seven—that's about the same as the other immortal herbs.

"It's too late today; let's set off for the Sunset Forest tomorrow!" Ling Feng said.

Liu Erlong replied, "Very well. You've been guarding me for two days; you should rest for the night."

"I live alone, so you might as well stay here."

"Alright, then I won't be polite!" Ling Feng said.

As night fell, Liu Erlong lay in bed. With the presence of another person in the house, her mind felt much more at ease, and she soon drifted off to sleep.

Even as a Spirit Master, she found the loneliness of living alone difficult to bear.

Before falling asleep, Liu Erlong murmured, "How wonderful it would be if things could always stay like this?"

Both were Spirit Masters accustomed to rising early, training through the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

"Morning. How did you sleep?" Liu Erlong asked.

Ling Feng thought for a moment and said, "I slept very well. It feels like home!"

He spoke the truth; ever since he became an orphan, this was the first time he had felt such a sensation.

Back in Spirit City, he had lived in the Spirit Academy dormitories, which lacked the warmth of a home.

"That's good. If you ever want to come back, the doors here will always be open for you," Liu Erlong said.

After speaking, she watched Ling Feng's reaction with some nervousness.

"Alright, then when I come to visit in the future, you aren't allowed to chase me away!" Ling Feng said.

Seeing that Ling Feng had not refused, Liu Erlong finally let out a sigh of relief.

Half a day later, Sunset Forest.

"The target I intend to hunt this time is a Human-Faced Demon Spider. We are approaching its territory, so be careful," Ling Feng said.

Recalling that Liu Erlong, much like Bibi Dong, rarely delved into martial soul theory, he added, "The Human-Faced Demon Spider has a spider body and a human face. It excels at using poison and stealthy movement, making it as elusive as a Ghost in the forest. I fear it will attempt to ambush us shortly."

"Its defense is incredibly strong. As a twenty-thousand-year soul beast, breaking through its hide will be difficult."

"Its weakness lies in its eight eyes. If we want to kill it, we must strike at them!" Ling Feng stated.

"I understand!" Liu Erlong nodded.

"Since it excels at stealth, how are we supposed to find it?"

Ling Feng was well-prepared; he was simply repeating a previous tactic.

"It is a master of stealth, and unless it is injured, we will never find it. That is why I intend to lure it out!"

Ling Feng retrieved a thousand-year spirit fruit from his soul tool.

The reason he did not use a ten-thousand-year spirit herb was that he did not intend to retrieve it; he planned to set a trap within the fruit.

However, even a thousand-year spirit herb held immense appeal for a soul beast.

"This is a thousand-year spirit herb?" Liu Erlong realized, "You intend to use it to lure that soul beast?"

Ling Feng nodded. "Correct. I don't think it will be able to resist."

"But if we fail, won't this spirit herb go to waste?" Liu Erlong said with a hint of regret.

"You have to spend a spirit herb to catch a demon spider, don't you? If you like them, I'll give you some more later!" Ling Feng replied.

Ling Feng possessed plenty of these spirit herbs, so he felt no heartache at all.

Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the growth rate of spirit herbs was dozens, if not hundreds, of times faster than in the outside world.

A thousand-year spirit herb could grow in just ten or twenty years, so losing one was of no consequence.

"No, no, I just accepted one from you; how could I possibly ask for more?"

"Alright, I'm about to make my move. Stay alert!" Ling Feng said.

Ling Feng broke the skin of the spirit fruit and inserted a small yin-yang jade bottle inside.

The bottle was filled with spring water from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. If the Human-Faced Demon Spider consumed it, Ling Feng might be able to reap the rewards without a fight.

After tossing the spirit fruit into the territory of the Human-Faced Demon Spider, Ling Feng took Liu Erlong and hid.

"Will it really appear?" Liu Erlong asked, sounding worried.

"That depends on luck!" Ling Feng whispered in reply.

The Human-Faced Demon Spider was different from the Crypt Demon Spider; the latter preferred to stay holed up, waiting for prey to come to it.

The Human-Faced Demon Spider, however, enjoyed wandering, venturing outside its territory to hunt other soul beasts or humans.

Ling Feng's luck was good. Before long, relying on his keen eyesight and spiritual power, he detected a slight movement.

"It's here!"