[Choose Resonance: Evil Poison Chain to replace Spider Web Restraint!]
With a single thought from Bai Mu, his consciousness withdrew from the mental space.
The purple spirit ring was successfully absorbed.
Although it was only a thousand-year spirit ring, Bai Mu's physique suddenly surged at that moment.
A wave of numbness spread across his back, followed by sharp cracking sounds from his bones.
It felt as if something was drilling its way out from within—
Rip!
His clothes tore apart as eight dark-purple protrusions burst forth from both sides of his spine.
As spirit power poured into them, the eight protrusions rapidly extended, quickly reaching a length of about one and a half meters.
After forming joints, they bent and continued to grow, gradually thinning into incomparably sharp tips.
"What… what is that…"
Meng Yiran, buried in the ground, watched the entire process in a daze.
How did a perfectly normal Spirit Master suddenly turn into some kind of Man-Faced Spider monster?
"Spider legs… could it be…"
"The legendary external Spirit Bone…"
Long Gong and Snake Po, also buried in the ground, exchanged bitter looks.
How could their luck be this terrible—to randomly provoke such an existence?
Judging by Bai Mu's demeanor, it didn't seem like he cared whether they lived or died.
Were they truly going to die here?
Bai Mu paid them no attention.
His entire focus was on the Eight Spider Lances behind him.
They resembled deep-purple crystals, shimmering with a dangerous and terrifying aura. Their tips were razor-sharp, as if venom were constantly dripping from them.
"Finally got them."
A satisfied smile appeared on Bai Mu's face.
Whether it was due to the effects of the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum and the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, he could clearly feel that the initial fusion degree of the Eight Spider Lances with his body was extremely high.
The moment they appeared, they already felt like extensions of his own body.
With a thought, the Eight Spider Lances moved as naturally as his arms, swaying and dancing with perfect flexibility.
He retracted and extended them freely, completely at ease.
Walking up to a nearby massive tree, Bai Mu controlled one spider lance to thrust forward.
Puchi!
The spider lance pierced straight through the trunk, venom spreading like ink.
In an instant, the entire tree was saturated, and even the surrounding ground was infected.
Sizzle—
He pulled the spider lance back.
The massive tree instantly collapsed into powder.
A strange energy surged into his body.
"Devouring power. What a pity it can only be used temporarily for now."
Even as he rejoiced, Bai Mu had already begun planning how to evolve the Eight Spider Lances.
As long as they could reach the level of absorbing an opponent's energy to raise their own Rank, his growth speed would become terrifying.
Speaking of which… what Rank am I now?
Bai Mu tried to sense it. Conservatively, he felt he had risen by at least five Ranks.
As for the exact Rank, it was difficult to determine.
He didn't dwell on it and instead turned to Zygarde.
"Little Soft, compile the information and send it to me."
Zygarde nodded lightly and transmitted the data.
[Bai Mu (Rank 48)]
[Spirit Abilities: Jungle Healing, Substitute, Time Roar, Evil Poison Chain]
[Move: Detect]
[Spirit Bones: Eye of Time Drilling, Eight Spider Lances]
[Spirit: Zygarde (Dual Core)]
[Z-Cell Count: 87 (6 still digesting Immortal Herbs and not yet divided)]
[Moves: Haze, Sandstorm, Extreme Speed, Earth Divine Power, Dragon Dance, Thousand Arrows Volley, Thousand Wave Surge]
[Special Moves: Sacred Fire, Frenzy Plant, Evil Poison Chain]
"Not bad. I jumped straight to Rank 48."
Bai Mu clenched his fist, feeling the surging power coursing through his body.
"Just two more Ranks and I'll be able to obtain another spirit ring."
"And with thirteen more cells, Little Soft might even turn into a Gundam."
There were other gains as well.
Zygarde had not only successfully learned Haze, but had also awakened the exclusive move Thousand Wave Surge.
Haze: Releases black mist that resets the abilities of all affected targets, clearing buffs and debuffs.
Thousand Wave Surge: Kicks up massive waves from the ground to attack, trapping those caught within and preventing escape.
"Good. Very good."
Bai Mu nodded in satisfaction.
He clenched his hand in the air, and a purple Evil Poison Chain appeared in his grasp.
With a fierce swing, the chain shot forward.
Trees snapped, the ground cracked, and rocks shattered.
"Even in my hands, this Spirit Ability has decent power."
After a brief assessment, Bai Mu turned and walked back toward the three of them.
"Speak. How do the three of you plan to apologize to me?"
He squatted in front of Meng Yiran, the Eight Spider Lances swaying behind him like execution blades that could pierce their skulls at any moment.
"Little friend—no! My Lord!"
Meng Shu hurriedly corrected himself, lowering his head.
"If My Lord is willing to spare us, I am willing to lead my entire family to serve you and follow your commands."
"Just that?"
Bai Mu seemed unimpressed.
He reached out and forcefully pinched Meng Yiran's soft cheek, speaking casually.
"Then are you planning to wash your granddaughter clean and send her to my estate? And kneel and kowtow a few times to make things more interesting?"
"We… we're willing, but please spare Yiran."
Meng Shu looked at his tearful granddaughter and spoke with great difficulty.
"Oh?"
Bai Mu sneered.
"Listen to yourself. Every debt has its owner. If I spare her, who's going to spare me?"
"Huh?!"
He grabbed Meng Yiran by the neck and yanked her out of the ground.
"Wu—cough, cough…"
The sudden lack of air made Meng Yiran flail her limbs desperately.
"Let go of my granddaughter!"
"If you have the guts, then kill us!"
Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang struggled in fury, trying to break free, but Zygarde's power crushed them back into the ground.
"From now on, you will be my slave and handmaid. You will do whatever I tell you. Any objections?"
Bai Mu ignored the two elders and stared directly at Meng Yiran.
"Mmph… mmph!"
Her face flushed red as she struggled, unable to form a single complete sentence.
"No objection? Then I'll take that as agreement."
He waited calmly for more than ten seconds. Seeing that she was on the verge of fainting, he finally tossed her aside.
"Ugh… cough, cough…"
Meng Yiran collapsed on the ground, gasping for air, her eyes filled with nothing but fear as she looked at Bai Mu.
"As for you two, I still haven't figured out why you dared to provoke me in the first place."
"Since you chose to provoke me—and even tried to kill me—are you prepared to pay the price?"
Bai Mu turned to Long Gong and Snake Po, a gentle smile on his face.
"I'll ask you again. Are you willing to be used by me?"
"To be my dogs."
"The kind that stays on the ground even while eating, unless I give permission."
This wasn't recruitment.
It was naked coercion.
And humiliation.
"This…"
The two hesitated.
If it were only the two of them, an esteemed Spirit Douluo and Spirit Saint, what did death matter compared to such humiliation?
But they still had their granddaughter.
They couldn't die.
"It's just a question of whether your dog lives or not, and you're thinking this long?"
Bai Mu pinched Meng Yiran's neck again, applying pressure.
"Do you want me to give you more time to think?"
"Mmph!"
Meng Yiran whimpered in pain.
"We're willing!"
Long Gong shouted hurriedly.
"We're willing!"
"We're willing to be My Lord's dogs!"
Snake Po echoed desperately.