"Hmm?"
Qin Yang's expression shifted slightly. His eyes swept across the roof, but the little purple spider had already vanished without a trace.
The crafty creature must have hidden itself in an extremely secluded corner.
"What are you looking at, Qin Yang?"
Xia He blew out a smoke ring, frowning at the odd expression on Qin Yang's face.
"It's nothing," Qin Yang replied, shaking his head with a trace of regret in his eyes.
He had reacted too slowly.
If the system claimed that little spider was a Beast King, then killing it would likely have earned him a generous reward, just like last time. But considering its incredible speed and its ability to crawl freely along the ceiling, hunting it down wouldn't be easy.
"Highly intelligent, and fond of studying human martial arts…"
"That little spider really is something else."
Qin Yang sighed inwardly, recalling the system's description.
Which meant one thing.
The spider wouldn't leave the library.
If it loved human martial arts so much, it would definitely continue lurking in the library's shadows. That gave Qin Yang time. He just needed to be patient. An opportunity would come.
"A Beast King-level star beast…"
"If I can kill it, the system's reward will be even greater."
His heart began to race at the thought.
From that day on, Qin Yang made a habit of patrolling the library, eyes sharp and senses alert. He searched for the slightest sign of the little spider.
But it never showed.
It was too alert, too cautious. Maybe it had been spooked by the loud noises during the spring cleaning. For days, there was no sign of it.
With its speed and stealth, a direct confrontation would be near impossible.
After some thought, Qin Yang decided to shift tactics. He needed a martial technique suited for hunting elusive prey.
So he began training in a hidden weapon art.
…
The incident with the unlucky uncle bitten by a poisonous insect was quickly resolved, thanks to the powerful expert overseeing the Jiangcheng Martial Arts Library.
Qin Yang and Xia He returned to their usual work routines.
"Nine Sunflower Needles?"
Xia He raised an eyebrow in disbelief as he snatched a book from Qin Yang's hands.
"You really read anything, huh? You're not picky at all."
"What do you know? Better to master more skills than fewer," Qin Yang said, taking the book back and resuming his study.
The Nine Sunflower Needles were a hidden weapon technique, and Qin Yang had chosen it specifically to deal with the Purple Soul Demon Spider.
To that end, he had even ordered a batch of embroidery needles online to train properly. With his current strength at half-step into the Innate Realm, these basic techniques were easy to pick up.
"I really don't understand what goes on in your head."
Xia He shook his head. Why bother reading so much?
He had already looked into Qin Yang's aptitude for martial arts. Useless. So why keep trying?
Why not just enjoy life like the rest of them?
Wasn't the whole point of working at the library to relax?
Everyone else was lying flat. Why was Qin Yang working so hard like some ascetic?
Qin Yang didn't bother responding.
If I don't read, should I go to Bai Jinhan with you every day?
Not everyone has a rich father like you.
After Xia He left, Qin Yang immersed himself in his studies again.
Just then, a fly landed on the edge of the table nearby.
Qin Yang's eyes lit up. He quietly pulled out a formation box from his pocket and pinched an embroidery needle between his fingers.
He gathered true energy, wrapped it around the needle, and flicked his finger.
In an instant, the needle shot out, pinning the fly cleanly to the tabletop.
"Not bad, not bad. This technique really works."
Qin Yang nodded in satisfaction. It would make hunting small, agile creatures much easier in the future.
He had already mastered the Nine Sunflower Needles.
If that purple spider ever showed itself again, Qin Yang was confident he could take it down.
But despite his constant vigilance, the spider never returned.
Qin Yang began to wonder if he had used too much pesticide during the spring cleaning. Maybe it had driven the spider away.
If so, that would be a terrible loss.
"Qin Yang, it's time to eat! Quit looking around."
At noon, Qin Yang and Xia He headed to the cafeteria together.
"Hey, did you hear?" Xia He leaned in, eyes wide. "A bloodthirsty demon's appeared in Jianghai City."
Qin Yang was taken aback. "A bloodthirsty demon?"
"Yeah, the kind that drinks human blood. The Xingwu Police found a body yesterday—completely dried up like a mummy."
"All the blood had been drained. It's terrifying."
Xia He shuddered slightly, his expression pale.
"I think it's someone who practiced some evil cultivation technique. They need human blood to grow stronger."
Qin Yang's face turned grim. This world was full of hidden horrors.
There were terrifying star beasts.
And now monsters in human skin practicing forbidden arts.
He asked, "Isn't the Xingwu Police doing something about it?"
"Of course they are, but this demon is slippery. Several people have died already, and they still haven't found a trace."
"I just hope they catch it soon. Otherwise, I won't even dare go to Bai Jinhan anymore," Xia He said with a frustrated look.
Qin Yang: "…"
Why do you have to bring up Bai Jinhan every single day?
Still, the incident had made one thing clear.
This world was dangerous—very dangerous.
There was the bitten old man.
Now bloodless corpses.
Even in a place guarded by warriors and the Xingwu Police, people were still dying.
But Qin Yang wasn't too worried.
He had found out during his time at the library that the owner was rumored to be a powerful star warrior in the Innate Realm.
As long as he stayed here, he'd be safe.
Let the tall ones hold up the sky when it falls.
Back in Area 1, Qin Yang resumed his reading.
Suddenly, a system notification rang out in his mind.
"Ding! Beast King-level aura detected! Host, evacuate immediately!"
"Repeat! Host, evacuate immediately!"
Qin Yang stiffened, but reacted instantly. His eyes darted to the ceiling.
There. A purple figure skittered rapidly across the rooftop.
Finally!
Without hesitation, Qin Yang pulled out an embroidery needle, infused it with true energy, and launched it with a flick.
Snap!
The needle struck the spider dead-on.
The small creature dropped from the roof, landing with a thud and thrashing violently.
Qin Yang didn't pause. He fired another needle.
This time, the spider twitched once, twice, then stopped moving entirely.
Seeing the spider motionless on the ground, Qin Yang rushed over, heart pounding with excitement.
He called out in his mind.
"System, where's my reward?"
"Come on, hurry up and say it!"
After a brief silence, the system finally responded, voice full of exaggerated amazement.
"Oh my god! What did I just witness?"
"The host actually killed a Beast King-level star beast!"
"Dear host, you are incredible!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing an Beast King-level star beast! Activating twenty-fold reward multiplier. You have received…"