Defeating the Man Faced Demon Spider

The light deep within the Spirit Ascension Platform suddenly dimmed, and a suffocating, sickly-sweet stench invaded their nostrils. The bushes ahead burst apart, revealing an enormous Man Faced Demon Spider. Dark green venom flowed over its pitch-black carapace, and its eight long legs resembled poisoned spears. Greed and brutality mingled on its hideous, eerily human face.

"Watch out for the poison mist!" Tang Wulin's pupils contracted as he shouted a sharp warning.

Wang Jinxi instinctively stepped forward to serve as a bulwark, but the poisonous fumes rushing toward him made him hesitate. His martial soul was the Ancient Dragon King. Although it granted him formidable defensive talents, that defense came not from a shield in his hand, but from the hard Dragon Scales growing from his own body. Faced with such intensely corrosive poison, he dared not be careless. If it breached his scales, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"We'll be poisoned to death in close combat!" Xie Xie stamped his feet anxiously on the flank. His twin blades were fast, but he dared not let even a trace of venom touch them.

"We can only suppress it from a distance!" Tang Wulin decided immediately, his gaze shooting toward Gu Yue like lightning. "Gu Yue, it's up to you!"

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Gu Yue. Only one soul ring shone beneath her feet, representing the sole soul skill she had revealed so far. Yet her expression was cold as frost, as though the terrifying Man Faced Demon Spider before her were nothing more than an insignificant speck of dust.

"Elemental Control, rise, wind!"

Though she had only one soul skill, Gu Yue's mastery of the elements had already reached the pinnacle. She lightly raised her delicate hand, and the air around her instantly erupted into motion. Raging Wind Element formed an invisible barrier, forcibly dispersing the incoming poison mist and clearing a safe haven for her teammates.

Then her gaze turned cold, and the surrounding temperature plummeted. "Ice Seal!"

Wind and ice, two entirely different elements, fused perfectly in her hands. A blizzard laced with sharp Wind Blades swept toward the Man Faced Demon Spider, blotting out the sky.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss—"

The Wind Blades sliced against the demon spider's carapace with piercing screeches, while the ice elements swiftly froze the spurting venom, pinning the poisonous miasma tightly around its body.

Enraged by this sudden long-range assault, the Man Faced Demon Spider shrieked wildly and tried to break through the wind and Xue's blockade. But Gu Yue's attacks covered such a wide area that it had no chance to approach.

Meanwhile, Tang Wulin formed seals with both hands. Countless strands of Blue Silver Grass burst from the earth on all sides, winding toward the Man Faced Demon Spider's legs like nimble snakes.

"Entanglement!"

Although this was not a soul skill, merely the most basic application of soul power, Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass was no longer what it once had been. Bolstered by Blue Silver Redemption, the strands were incredibly tough, instantly binding several of the Man Faced Demon Spider's legs.

The Man Faced Demon Spider struggled frantically, but the Blue Silver Grass only tightened, creeping up its legs as though alive.

Looking at the bound Man Faced Demon Spider, Tang Wulin could not help marveling inwardly. Blue Silver Grass was the most ordinary martial soul, yet it held limitless possibilities. Using soul power to make plants entangle a target was an innate instinct of plant-type soul masters. Those who chose the Entanglement soul skill for their first soul ring were truly wasting a precious soul ring slot. If they used that ring for a stronger offensive or defensive soul skill, their strength would certainly rise to another level. Entanglement with Blue Silver Grass depended on technique and precise control of soul power, not the soul skill itself.

"Xie Xie, now!" Tang Wulin shouted.

Xie Xie understood. His figure flashed into an afterimage as he circled behind the Man Faced Demon Spider's flank. Though he could not engage it in close combat, he could use his speed to strike the joints of the spider legs bound by Blue Silver Grass.

"Light Dragon Transformation! Shadow Dragon Transformation!"

His twin blades crossed, slashing viciously at the weak points in the Man Faced Demon Spider's joints. Although they could not break through its defenses, they inflicted considerable pain and slowed its movements further.

Gu Yue seized the opportunity to attack again. The roar of lightning elements joined the wind and Xue, and countless electrical sparks darted through the wind and Xue, completely enveloping the Man Faced Demon Spider.

Wang Jinxi finally overcame the fear in his heart as well. Taking a deep breath, he activated Martial Soul Possession. A phantom of the Ancient Dragon King appeared, and a thick layer of ancient Dragon Scales instantly covered his skin. This was his strongest defense, and the dignity he possessed as the "Ancient Dragon King."

"I'm no longer a coward who only knows how to run!" Wang Jinxi roared. Rather than charge at the demon spider, he stood in front of his teammates, using his Dragon Scales-covered back to shield them from the venom and spider silk it occasionally spat out.

Outside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Long Hengxu watched in astonishment. "Their coordination... it's absolutely seamless. Tang Wulin's control, Gu Yue's ranged attacks, Xie Xie's speed keeping it occupied, and Wang Jinxi's Dragon Scales defense. This Class Zero lineup is truly a pleasant surprise."

The corners of Wu Changkong's mouth also rose in an almost imperceptible curve. Watching Gu Yue's calm, composed direction, he thought, This child really hasn't disappointed me.

Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, the Man Faced Demon Spider's struggles grew weaker and weaker. Finally, a strike of Gu Yue's Seven Elements: Annihilation reduced it to a charred corpse, which crashed to the ground.

Points, +1000!

Everyone exchanged smiles. Though the battle had been perilous, they had won. And through his teammates' trust and his own courage, Wang Jinxi had finally reclaimed the pride of the Ancient Dragon King.

The Man Faced Demon Spider's enormous body crashed to the ground, turning into a streak of light that merged into Gu Yue and left wreckage scattered across the earth. Yet the danger was not over. The corpse rapidly rotted, and its dark green venom seeped into the soil. Vast clouds of poison mist, thick enough to seem solid, instantly rose and spread swiftly outward.

"Careful! This poison mist is corrosive, and it masks auras!" Tang Wulin knitted his brows. If they allowed it to spread, they would not only lose their bearings, but also draw countless vicious, poison-loving soul beasts.

"But this poison mist... could also be our bait." A sharp gleam flashed in Tang Wulin's eyes, and he swiftly made his decision.

He used no soul skill. Relying solely on his own abundant soul power, he formed seals with both hands and focused his spiritual power intently.

"Gather!"

At his low command, the surrounding Blue Silver Grass seemed to hear its sovereign's decree and surged toward the edges of the poison mist. Like tough ropes, strand after strand wove tightly together under the guidance of his soul power, forming a green barrier several meters high. It was not a solid wall, but a structure supported by countless intertwined strands of Blue Silver Grass. It both prevented the poison mist from spreading outward and created a relatively enclosed space within.

"This poison mist is natural bait. Once those poison-loving soul beasts catch its scent, they'll charge in regardless of the consequences!" Tang Wulin said gravely, his eyes burning as he watched for movement inside the barrier.

Sure enough, before long, a commotion arose in the distant forest. Several Thousand-Year Poison Vines and Mottled Tigers, drawn by the poisonous fumes, slammed frantically against the Blue Silver Grass barrier, their eyes bloodshot.

"They're here!" Xie Xie tightened his grip on his twin blades excitedly.

"Prepare for battle!" Tang Wulin shouted, and everyone immediately readied themselves.

Gu Yue lightly waved her delicate hand, sending Wind Blades and ice cones raining down in alternating waves to freeze and sever the poison vines at the front. Xie Xie darted through the Tigers like lightning, soul beasts collapsing with agonized howls wherever his twin blades passed. Wang Jinxi became a mobile fortress, weathering the soul beasts' attacks to give his teammates room to unleash their own.

The battle ended quickly. Through their seamless coordination, the several thousand-year soul beasts were swiftly cleared away, turning into globes of pure soul power that hovered in midair.

"Absorb!" Tang Wulin beckoned, and the globes surged into their bodies like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

"Ding! Large quantities of soul power detected. Converting into points... Points can be used to increase your soul spirits' age or exchange for resources." The cold system notification sounded in everyone's minds.

Feeling the growth of soul power within him, Tang Wulin's eyes flashed with delight. These points could not only strengthen them, but also nourish their soul spirits, granting their martial souls greater potential in the future. All of this had come from the seemingly dangerous poison mist and the Blue Silver Grass barrier he had created with soul power alone.

Outside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Long Hengxu watched the barrier woven from countless strands of Blue Silver Grass in the monitoring crystal, along with the Class Zero students furiously harvesting points within it. He could not help praising them. "This child Tang Wulin doesn't just possess outstanding strength. His quick thinking is even rarer. Turning danger into opportunity—with a temperament like that, his future is boundless."

Wu Changkong remained expressionless, but a nearly imperceptible glimmer of approval flashed deep in his eyes. He knew these children were growing at an astonishing rate. And Tang Wulin's ability to control plants with soul power alone, without relying on soul skills, showed him the boy's limitless potential.

The Blue Silver Grass barrier had only just been withdrawn, and traces of the surging soul power still lingered in the air. Before anyone could catch their breath, however, a jumble of footsteps approached, accompanied by a teasing chuckle that shattered the brief quiet.

"Well, look who we have here. Hiding in a grass nest for a tea party?"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Mu Xi blocking their path with several senior students. Her arms were folded across her chest. Her gaze swept over them before finally settling on Tang Wulin's face. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, only to turn into deeper mockery.

"Tang Wulin? What are you doing here?"

Tang Wulin frowned slightly, but still greeted her respectfully. "Senior Sister Mu Xi."

That "Senior Sister" did not earn him any goodwill. Mu Xi looked the people beside Tang Wulin up and down—Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Wang Jinxi, and Zhang Yangzi—and the sneer at the corner of her mouth grew more pronounced.

"Not bad, Tang Wulin. Your talent is unquestionable among the Newborn. Even the Dean praised your potential. But..." Mu Xi deliberately drew out the word, her contemptuous gaze roaming over the others. "Your taste in teammates really leaves something to be desired."

She pointed at Wang Jinxi and Xie Xie, mocking them mercilessly. "Two with two rings, and another who hasn't even shown how many soul rings they have. These are your so-called 'companions'?"

Wang Jinxi, the most hotheaded among them, immediately tried to rush forward and argue, but Tang Wulin reached out to stop him.

"Senior Sister, they're my friends." Tang Wulin's voice was low, but carried an unquestionable resolve.

"Friends?" Mu Xi laughed as though she had heard the most ridiculous joke imaginable. "Tang Wulin, surely you aren't naive enough to think your talent alone can keep this bunch of 'deadweights' alive in the Spirit Ascension Platform when they haven't even reached three rings?"

The followers behind her joined in the jeering. "Exactly, Senior Mu Xi. These people probably haven't even touched Shrek's front gates, have they? They're nothing like us, yet they actually want to team up with a genius. Toads lusting after swan flesh!"

"Right? Why don't they piss themselves a puddle and take a good look at their reflections? With that kind of strength, they think they deserve to be Tang Wulin's teammates? They're a disgrace to Shrek."

Mu Xi waved a hand to silence those behind her, then turned her gaze back to Tang Wulin. Her tone held the condescension of someone disappointed that iron would not become steel. "Tang Wulin, take your senior sister's advice. A wise bird chooses the tree where it roosts. Trash like this, without even three rings, has no right to stand beside you. Cut ties with them while you can. Don't sacrifice your own future too."

Tang Wulin's expression turned utterly cold. Looking at Mu Xi, he said each word distinctly. "They aren't trash. And whether they deserve to be my teammates isn't determined by the number of their soul rings, but by their hearts."

"Hearts?" Mu Xi raised her brows, her eyes filled with disdain. "Before absolute strength, hearts are the most useless things of all. Without enough soul rings and soul skills, they're nothing but burdens to you!"

With that, she snorted coldly and swept away with her group, leaving only a mocking remark drifting on the wind. "Just wait. Before long, you'll realize your senior sister was right."

Watching Mu Xi's retreating figure, Wang Jinxi trembled with anger, his clenched fists cracking. "Boss, she's gone too far! Three rings this, three rings that—once I reach three rings, I'll make her pay!"

Xie Xie also tightened his grip on his twin blades, humiliated fury flashing in his eyes. "Exactly! Who does she think she's looking down on? It's just one more soul ring. What's so great about that?"

Tang Wulin turned to his furious companions and held out his hand, palm down. Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Wang Jinxi understood, stacking their hands over his one after another.

"Listen," Tang Wulin said, his voice low but powerful. "We'll remember the humiliation we suffered today. One day, we'll show everyone that a true team isn't built by piling up individual glory, but through mutual trust and the bonds between us. So what if they have three rings? We'll catch up."