The Man-Faced Demon Spider earned its name from the grotesque white markings on its lower abdomen. These markings contrasted starkly with its pitch-black carapace, forming the terrifying semblance of a human face twisted in agony.
In the Star Dou Great Forest, the Man-Faced Demon Spider was infamous—not just for its cruelty, but for its sadistic nature. It relished watching its prey sink into despair as their life force was drained away.
Now, with all eight of its purple-glowing eyes locked on Xiao Wu and Qi Lin, the spider drooled corrosive venom from its maw, its hunger palpable.
Xiao Wu wrinkled her delicate nose, murmuring with clear disgust, "Tch. What rotten luck—of all things, we had to run into a Man-Faced Demon Spider."
Qi Lin added grimly, "And it's not just any one—it's a two-thousand-year-old variant. Deadly venom. A careless Soul Elder with three rings wouldn't even stand a chance."
Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes, her tone cold. "We don't need to fight fair against such a filthy beast."
With a flick of her wrist, she drew a silver, gleaming soul tool—her custom-made Desert Eagle.
"Let's show it what real justice looks like!"
She pulled the trigger relentlessly, unloading the entire clip in a blinding barrage of soul-powered bullets.
The Man-Faced Demon Spider had never seen such an underhanded ambush. Before it could react, its once-imposing body was riddled with holes, dark ichor oozing from its wounds.
BOOM!
The great spider collapsed with a thunderous crash, eyes lifeless. If it had any shred of human expression left, it would've been filled with confusion and disbelief.
Above its corpse, a brilliant purple spirit ring began to condense.
Xiao Wu sighed. "If Little San saw that ring fade away just like that, he'd probably cry."
She glanced sideways. "He's got a Blue Silver Grass spirit, yet he keeps absorbing poison-type rings. What's wrong with him? That grass of his should've collapsed by now."
Qi Lin nodded. "Even I'm starting to wonder if Grandmaster really knows what he's doing."
In the original timeline, Tang San's second ring had come from a Ghost Vine—only around six hundred years old. The Ghost Vine had poison too, but its true strength lay in parasitism. Now, though, to catch up with them, Tang San had gone after something even deadlier: the Jade Phosphor Serpent.
According to Yu Xiaogang's analysis, not only did the serpent boast a terrifying poison, but it also had exceptional flexibility—perfectly compatible with the Blue Silver Grass.
After absorbing two poison-based spirit rings, Tang San's martial spirit had indeed become more powerful. Even Xiao Wu had to be cautious when sparring with him—one brush of that poisoned vine could mean real trouble.
And so, Tang San's resolve to evolve his Blue Silver Grass through toxin fusion only grew stronger. After all, if even Xiao Wu, who far surpassed him in level, was wary of his spirit, wasn't that a form of success?
What he hadn't noticed, though, was that the more poison it absorbed, the more brittle his martial spirit had quietly become…
Star Dou Great Forest.
Just as Xiao Wu turned to leave with Qi Lin, he tilted his head, eyes narrowing sharply.
"Qi Lin-ge, what's wrong?" she asked.
He didn't answer immediately, instead staring at the Man-Faced Demon Spider's body.
"…Why is it still glowing?"
Her expression shifted.
"Wait… don't tell me—"
"A soul bone!"
Xiao Wu's eyes went wide, disbelief flooding her face.
Qi Lin nodded slowly, already sifting through his memories. Didn't Tang San get a soul bone from a two-thousand-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider in the original story?
Could this be that very spider?
If so… then the soul bone inside it could only be—
The Eight Spider Lances.
Xiao Wu dashed forward, retrieving the glowing bone from the spider's abdomen. The stench was overwhelming, but she ignored it, frowning as she inspected the blood-soaked fragment.
"…Which part of the body is this from? I can't even tell."
Qi Lin's gaze sharpened. After a long moment, he confirmed it.
"This is it. An external soul bone—the Eight Spider Lances."
Xiao Wu gasped. "An external soul bone? Those are real?"
"This not just rare, this is priceless!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Qi Lin flicked her forehead lightly. "Dummy. An external soul bone isn't just valuable—it's beyond value."
Unlike ordinary soul bones, external ones could grow alongside their user. Even a two-thousand-year-old external bone could rival a hundred-thousand-year regular soul bone in worth.
Xiao Wu pouted. "You keep calling me dumb. I'm only like this because I've been around you too long."
Still, she handed him the soul bone without hesitation.
Qi Lin accepted it with a smile, placing it into his spatial ring.
"Don't worry," he said, gently teasing. "Something like this is perfect for forging. I'll think about what to craft it into. Maybe a weapon, wings, or armor… When I've decide, I'll make something for you too."
Xiao Wu let out a soft "hmph," finally satisfied.
Truthfully, it didn't matter what he gave her. Even if it were just a carrot, as long as it came from Qi Lin, she'd treasure it.
Just as the two of them ventured deeper into the forest, the ground began to tremble.
Qi Lin's brow furrowed. "…Something big is heading this way."
He glanced at Xiao Wu, his mind flashing back to the original timeline.
Don't tell me… it's coming because it sensed her presence…
Noticing his look, Xiao Wu felt a jolt of panic.
Oh no—
That idiot Er Ming! Why would he just show up without asking me first?!
If my identity gets exposed, what then?!
Her heart pounded in chaos.
And then—it appeared.
A towering figure emerged from the trees.
The Titan Giant Ape.
Qi Lin's eyes widened. "I knew it."
There was no mistaking it. This was Er Ming, the mighty forest king.
The beast lumbered to a halt before them, its massive frame casting a long shadow. Its eyes locked onto Xiao Wu, unwavering.
Frantically, she began sending it signals with her eyes, hoping to shoo it away.
But Er Ming, for all his raw power, wasn't exactly known for his smarts.
Scratching his head in confusion, his deep, thunderous voice rumbled out:
"Xiao Wu-jie… why are you blinking at me so much? Are your eyes itchy?"
Xiao Wu: "…"