Unrivaled Dragon and Snake

The two did not waste much time talking. As they proceeded along the path, En Zuo kept a timely watch on the surrounding terrain. When they passed through a slightly open area, he raised a hand to stop Tang San, who was about to continue forward.

"We're... here." En Zuo heard dense, rustling footsteps moving through the forest, like leaves rubbing together. The two turned their eyes toward the source of the sound.

Tang San forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart. "It really is... a Human-Faced Demon Spider."

Even though he had prepared himself mentally, seeing it happen before his eyes was still deeply shocking.

It was respect for En Zuo.

The Human-Faced Demon Spider had noticed them as well. Its eight long legs moved in a steady rhythm, and in an instant, it arrived before them. Raising its front legs high, it stabbed down at Tang San's head.

Tang San instinctively rolled aside, dodging the powerful blow. When he looked up, he saw a sight that stunned him.

The surrounding terrain was devastated by a large-scale soul skill, while En Zuo merely lifted one hand slightly. The hand holding the Crystal Staff gave a light flick, and the third ten-thousand-year soul ring circling him flashed.

"Third Soul Skill, Earth Element Control."

An immense force tore through the earth. The entire rock layer split apart as a stone spike made entirely of rock burst up from underground.

The Human-Faced Demon Spider tried to retreat.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Binding skill had already activated. Blue Silver Grass grew rapidly, wrapping around the Human-Faced Demon Spider's body and pinning it in place, leaving it unable to move.

From left to right, and from front to back, countless stone spikes erupted from the ground, piercing through the Human-Faced Demon Spider's vulnerable abdomen. It looked like prey being roasted over a bonfire.

It let out a desolate, drawn-out howl.

En Zuo idly teased the Demon Ding on his shoulder. This Human-Faced Demon Spider only had a thousand years of cultivation; it was simply too weak.

"This soul ring is yours. I'll stand guard for you," En Zuo reminded him. "If you don't hurry, it'll die."

Hearing this, Tang San summoned his second martial soul. At this point, there was no longer any need to hide it.

Though it had no soul ring attached, fed by thirty levels of soul power, the black hammer suddenly doubled in size. Tang San swung it with all his strength, the wind howling around it as it smashed toward the immobile Human-Faced Demon Spider.

"Bang—"

The piercing clash of iron rang deafeningly. The dying Human-Faced Demon Spider's entire body was knocked backward, exposing its battered lower abdomen.

"Now."

His soul power nearly exhausted, Tang San reached to his waist and produced sixteen needle-like hidden weapons. Under his precise control, two hidden weapons sank into each of its eyes, its weak point.

"Hiss—"

The Human-Faced Demon Spider's twisting body grew increasingly stiff, its movements weaker and weaker. Its life gradually ebbed away until... a soul ring condensed above its corpse.

Tang San sat down to meditate and recover his soul power, preparing to absorb the soul ring in his best condition. En Zuo, meanwhile, walked over to the Human-Faced Demon Spider's corpse with great interest.

En Zuo stripped away the Eight Spider Lances.

"Now isn't the time to absorb it. Deal with those two old fools first." En Zuo stored the Eight Spider Lances within Narak Space and looked toward the three uninvited guests who had arrived late.

The Unrivaled Dragon and Snake: Snake Lady Chao Tianxiang, and their granddaughter, Meng Yiran.

The Unrivaled Dragon and Snake first noticed En Zuo waiting for them where he stood, and their brows furrowed. Then they saw the dead Human-Faced Demon Spider and the soul ring it had produced. Their expressions changed drastically.

Someone had stolen their kill.

"Who was it?"

Meng Yiran let out a shriek. Her eyes swept over Tang San, who sat recovering his soul power, then En Zuo, whose expression had not changed. "Which one of you killed my Demon Spider?"

Tang San smiled bitterly to himself. He had not expected the small trouble En Zuo mentioned earlier to be this.

A man bore the consequences of his own actions.

Tang San did not drag En Zuo into this.

Everything before him proved that En Zuo's words had been true, without even the slightest falsehood. No matter what, Tang San had to consider Xiao Wu.

Nothing could happen to En Zuo.

Having recovered a little soul power, Tang San supported himself against a nearby tree and struggled to his feet. "I killed it."

Meng Yiran had initially guessed that En Zuo, who did not appear battered at all, had killed it. But Tang San's words immediately drew all her attention back to him.

Looking at Tang San's familiar face, her eyes suddenly reddened. "You again!?"

The thousand-year Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake from before had been taken by Tang San's group. And now, this Human-Faced Demon Spider had been taken by the very same people again.

How could she not feel wronged?

If she were not so strong-willed, she would have burst into tears right there.

Tang San patiently explained, "Sorry, I didn't know it was your prey."

At this moment, En Zuo made no rash moves. Based on what he knew, the Unrivaled Dragon and Snake's combined strength could reach the level of a Titled Douluo.

Though only a bottom-tier Titled Douluo.

But En Zuo was not a Soul Sage, nor did he possess a two-word battle armor. Even if he exceeded his limits, his strength could only barely reach the level of an ordinary Soul Emperor.

"Grandfather, you have to stand up for me." Seeing Tang San's infuriating expression, Meng Yiran's anger burned even hotter. The same person had ruined her good fortune again.

She had never suffered such humiliation before.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu stroked his granddaughter's head. Lowering his eyelids slightly, he spoke to Tang San. "Although it is understandable that you killed the Human-Faced Demon Spider upon encountering it, you have ruined my granddaughter's hunt for a soul beast twice in a row. You must give us an explanation."

"So..." Dragon Duke's gaze lingered on Tang San and En Zuo for several breaths each. "You two may each choose one person to join our family."

"Or leave one arm each behind."

En Zuo's face darkened completely. Since childhood, this was the first time anyone had dared to be so arrogant before him—and it was only a decrepit Soul Douluo.

He was merely an incompetent relic clinging to life in the First Era, not even a bottom-tier Titled Douluo. If En Zuo used every means at his disposal, the two before him truly would not be able to keep him here.

"You want my arm? What nerve. Let's see if you have what it takes to take it."

En Zuo had not forgotten that Tang San still had the Zhuge Divine Crossbow. If they truly fought to the death, Snake Lady would certainly be severely injured. Zhao Wuji was also on his way. Stalling a mere Soul Douluo for some time would not be a problem.

At worst, he could unfold the Narak Domain.

And return to the Dragon King Era.

Tang San gave En Zuo a deep look. He had already promised to join the monsters, leaving him with no grounds to negotiate with the Unrivaled Dragon and Snake. En Zuo refused to compromise, and so did he.

"Since you want our arms, come take them yourselves."

Dragon Duke Meng Shu had not expected two juniors so young to dare defy him, a Soul Douluo. Fury surged in his heart.

Meng Shu's killing intent overflowed. Since they could not be used by him, there was no reason to leave them alive in this world. "Since you want to die so badly, I'll grant your wish."