"The soul beasts in this Poison Miasma Zone truly have sharp senses, each one highly vigilant. If it were an ordinary soul master entering here, they might not even find a single beast in several days." Standing atop a tree branch, Tang San muttered to himself, before sneering.
"Unfortunately for them, it's me."
With a wave of his hand, he pulled a porcelain bottle from his soul tool and smashed it on the ground. Instantly, a purple mist rose and spread with the wind.
Then, he took out another bottle, pressed open the cap, and sprayed the liquid heavily over his clothes.
Back when he first entered this Poison Miasma Zone, three whole days passed without encountering a single soul beast. He soon realized the oddity of this place. Thus, he specially refined medicine to mask his own scent. At the same time, he crafted an incense to lure poison-attributed soul beasts.
His cultivation had risen so swiftly in recent days precisely because of this medicine, which successfully attracted countless poisonous soul beasts.
As a Tang Sect disciple, raised among poisons, he naturally understood how to draw them in.
With this thought, he sat cross-legged on the spot and waited quietly.
Who knew how much time had passed when—
Sha, sha, sha.
The rustling of branches and leaves echoed. Tang San immediately opened his eyes and looked toward the sound.
Before long, a black venomous serpent slithered out.
"A Golden Thread Ghost Viper. A pity—the years are lacking, only 20,000." Tang San sighed.
But soon after, the black serpent coiled on the ground suddenly stiffened and fled at lightning speed. The next instant, more rustling sounded. A black spider burst forth from the thickets.
Its sharp spears stabbed into the ground, its tail quivered, and it let out an eerie clicking sound, strange and terrifying.
"A 30,000-year Man-Faced Demon Spider!" Tang San's eyes lit up. With a flick of his hand, he drew out two Hell King Posts.
To hunt his sixth soul ring alone, he was not unprepared. Using poisonous herbs found in Sunset Forest, combined with the venom from poisonous soul beasts and the deadly toxin of his Eight Spider Lances, he painstakingly refined two Hell King Posts.
Even against a 50,000-year beast, he was confident that one stab would mean certain death.
He inhaled lightly, holding his breath. His fingers lifted slightly, ready to strike once the Man-Faced Demon Spider stepped closer, within his best range.
A 30,000-year Man-Faced Demon Spider was worthy of being his sixth soul ring.
Yet in the next instant, the spider suddenly turned around, body sinking low, its front spears lifted as it stared intently toward a patch of forest, poised to strike.
Click, click, click!
Its tail trembled, its mandibles ground together, emitting a strange threatening sound.
"Hm?" Tang San stopped his motion and looked where the spider was facing.
Hissss. A low hissing replied. The Man-Faced Demon Spider lifted its spears higher.
"No wonder they call it cruel and combative." Tang San couldn't help but mutter.
Sha, sha, sha.
From a nearby bush, two purple-black spears emerged, their joints bristling with green hairs dripping with sticky fluid that hissed as it hit the ground, instantly corroding leaves and releasing toxic green mist.
"A Death Spider!" Tang San's face tightened, then shifted to ecstasy.
If the Man-Faced Demon Spider was the king of arachnid soul beasts, the Death Spider was an emperor. Its peer, the Soul-Eating Spider, was equally terrifying. The Death Spider was famed for its corrosive venom, while the Soul Devouring Spider was known for unmatched offensive power. A 50,000-year Death Spider was already called Emperor. By his knowledge, one of Bibi Dong's twin spirits was the Death Spider Emperor—proof of its terror.
"And this one, judging by its size, must be at least 35,000 years. Perfect."
Having devoured so many beasts, Tang San's body had long reached an extreme toughness. He believed he could absorb the Death Spider's ring.
"Best if they fight to mutual ruin. Then I can devour both."
His eyes burned with heat.
In speed and offense, the Man-Faced Demon Spider had the edge. In defense and venom, the Death Spider reigned, with the added bonus of rapid regeneration.
If they fought seriously, he truly could not decide who would win. It was also his first time seeing a Death Spider; he had only heard Yu Xiaogang's descriptions.
"Click… hisss…" The two spiders faced off, each threatening the other.
For several moments they circled the clearing. Perhaps deterred by the menace of the two, no other beasts appeared nearby.
Time ticked by. Half an hour passed, yet neither attacked.
"They're confirming no hunters are nearby, worried a fight would draw interference?" Tang San guessed.
Not fighting, yet not leaving—what else could it be?
Soon his guess was confirmed.
Chiii!
The Man-Faced Demon Spider suddenly lunged, its spear striking like lightning.
Clang!
The Death Spider raised a leg to block, spitting venom, but the Man-Faced Demon Spider twisted aside to evade.
The duel began—quick strikes, probing thrusts.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
After a few exchanges, the Man-Faced Demon Spider grew heated, attacking furiously and even spraying sticky web.
Its web was extremely adhesive, tough, and laced with neurotoxin. But it had limited use, so it had restrained itself until now. Clearly, it was enraged.
The Death Spider retreated, spattering venom everywhere. Wherever it landed, the earth corroded and steamed. The Man-Faced Demon Spider's spears struck the ground, but each time venom touched its armor, the carapace hissed with corrosion. It was forced to leap away, shaking off droplets to avoid damage, all while trying to push its foe into another position.
"If this continues, the Man-Faced Demon Spider will lose." Tang San frowned.
From above, he could see clearly. Though swift and fierce, the Man-Faced Demon Spider was burning stamina rapidly, while the Death Spider, defending, conserved energy. Worse still, the Death Spider's venom-laced hairs filled the air with poison gas, which the Man-Faced Demon Spider inevitably inhaled.
Right now, in the heat of battle, it didn't matter. But over time, the build-up would cripple it.
And if the Death Spider won, Tang San was not confident he could face it head-on while it still had strength.
"I can't wait any longer."
The two beasts were locked in each other, blind to anything else. It was the perfect time.
His hands lifted, purple light swelling in his eyes. He waited silently.
The moment they clashed again—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two black rays shot out.
Hiss! Click!
Both spiders shrieked in pain, eyes pierced. Their strikes went astray, spearing each other's abdomens. In agony, they both staggered back. Without hesitation, they each turned to flee.
In the Poison Miasma Zone, beasts knew blood scent drew attackers. To linger was death.
"You think you can run from me?!" Tang San's gaze sharpened. Launching from a branch, he sprinted after the Death Spider.
So long as they were dead, he feared no others—his Hell King Posts' poison alone was deterrent enough. He had long accounted for such risks when planning to hunt here alone.
Thump, thump, thump—one man and one beast, one chasing, one fleeing. Soon, they reached a shadowy place.
Boom!
The Clear Sky Hammer crashed down, smashing the slowing Death Spider's head.
The creature twitched a few times, then stilled. A black soul ring floated up.
"I must absorb it quickly. After devouring this, I'll find the Man-Faced Demon Spider." Without hesitation, Tang San dismissed the Clear Sky Hammer.
To be safe, he pulled a bottle of powder from his soul tool and scattered it in a circle around the corpse.
"Hm?" Near the spider's head, something caught his attention. He looked closer—
A faintly glowing skull nestled between its forelimbs.
"A head soul bone!" Delight burst across his face as he rushed to pick it up.
Though short of 50,000 years, a Death Spider's skull bone was of incredible quality. For him, it was invaluable. Especially now.
His aunt Tang Yuehua had told him—the entrance to the Slaughter City required tremendous spiritual power.
A skull bone would strengthen that.
"Yu Xiaogang said it before—when soul bone and ring come from the same beast, they're perfectly compatible, and the soul bone skill often enhances the new ring skill. High quality, fitting my needs—why wouldn't I absorb it?"
"First the soul ring, later the soul bone." He stored it away.
After finishing his powder circle, he leapt onto the corpse's shell, shut his eyes, and guided the soul ring.
Time passed. No beast came near. Silence reigned.
Hours later, Tang San slowly opened his eyes.
"Level 62, a bit more. Not bad." He clenched his fist, smiling faintly.
At once, he comprehended his new sixth skill—Venomous Spider Spikes.
Channeled through the Blue Silver Grass, it launched poisonous spikes over a wide area, piercing and corroding foes.
"A large-area attack. Not bad." He nodded, satisfied.
More importantly, with this soul ring, his Blue Silver Grass gained an immensely enhanced poison attribute. Its venomous might was now terrifying.
Grinning, he retracted his spirit. The Eight Spider Lances unfurled behind him and pierced into the corpse, devouring it.
Moments later, he withdrew, leaping onto the trees and racing back the way he came.
After a time, he found the Man-Faced Demon Spider's corpse in a clearing, stinking of blood. No other beasts nearby.
"A pity, no soul bone." With a sigh, his Eight Spider Lances pierced in.
"Mmm." His body shuddered, comfort so intense it made him groan.
After several moments, he pulled free.
"Close to level 63. Excellent. The Eight Spider Lances have evolved again—likely past 50,000 years."
He had no comparison, but felt it had ascended to a new tier.
Smiling, he gazed skyward. "Time to leave this Poison Miasma Zone, then find a place to absorb the skull bone."
With that thought, he dashed toward the edges.
Two days later, he finally emerged, found a secluded spot, and began absorbing the 35,000-year skull bone.
A few hours later, the process was complete.
Opening his eyes, he felt the new power—and his expression brightened.
"What a powerful ability!"
—Poison Mutation. It induced toxins to evolve, multiplying their potency and massively enhancing poison attacks.
"With this skill, plus my hidden weapons, even against Yang Yunhai, why should I fear?" His eyes gleamed with sudden confidence.
"Only pity—he's guarded by Titled Douluo. Otherwise, his death would already be here."
He clenched his fists, hatred flashing.
The humiliation Yang Yunhai had given him, the blood-deep hatred of his father's murder, never once left his heart.
"Back to Heaven Dou City first. I must see Aunt Yuehua." Breathing deep, he set off again.
Days later, in a town outside Sunset Forest, Tang San strode in.
He soon heard the latest news shaking the soul master world.
"What? The Clear Sky Sect has been annihilated!" His whole body trembled, face filled with disbelief. "Uncle, Aunt Yuehua…"
His eyes turned blood red, teeth clenched, fists creaking.
"Yang Yunhai, Dugu Bo, Sword Douluo—no, the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. And Xue Qinghe—you dared expose Uncle's corpse for days. Damn you all, every last one of you must die! Each of you has a path to death!"
His heart howled, but he dared not shout aloud.
The whole continent was hunting him. Any exposure meant pursuit and certain death. He could only endure.
"Yang Yunhai, our feud deepens again. One day, I will tear you apart, humiliate your women, and display your corpse for all to see. Dugu Bo, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Heaven Dou Empire—you won't escape."
"It is not that this world cannot hold me, but that in my eyes, this world is no longer worthy of being held."
With this thought, he drained a cup of tea, rose, and walked out of the tavern.
Outside, the sunlight was bright, shining on his pale face. Tang San lifted his head to the sky.
"Wait. Those who harmed me will face judgment." He lowered his gaze, his face cold.
"Xiao Wu, wait for me."
He glanced once toward the Star Dou Forest, then strode toward the road to the Slaughter City.
(End of Chapter)
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