Xie Xie always felt like he must have had a grudge against Man-Faced Demon Spiders in his past life. He had only encountered this type of soul beast twice inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, yet both times they had come at him as though he had killed their parents.
The first time, he nearly got skewered by its Thousand-Year Stab, which would have made him the first Spirit Master in history to die to that soul beast's "Thousand-Year Kill."
The second time—this time—was even worse. The damn thing went straight for his manhood.
"Don't come any closer!" Σ(д|||)
Unfortunately, Man-Faced Demon Spiders were not creatures that listened. At this distance, not even Tang Wulin could save him. As the spider's sharp, spear-like legs drew near, he could almost feel them slicing through his trousers—
A silver flash!
In the next instant, Xie Xie suddenly reappeared right in front of Nan Fusheng. It was Nan Fusheng's second soul skill: Gate. He had long since placed Star Worms on both Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan, allowing him to instantly teleport them back to his side at any time.
The first thing Xie Xie did after reappearing was frantically reach down to check himself. Feeling that his "brother" was still intact, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"Now! Attack!"
Nan Fusheng's three soul rings lit up beneath his feet—one yellow, two purple. His third soul skill: Puppet Strings.
Invisible threads of spiritual power entangled the Man-Faced Demon Spider, freezing it in midair and leaving it unable to defend itself.
Gu Yue's hands formed seals. Ice and fire elements surged and fused, forming a blazing sphere that she hurled straight at the spider.
At the same time, Xu Xiaoyan conjured another five-meter-long Ice Spear, which shot forward and pierced into the spider's abdomen.
But after casting it, Xu Xiaoyan's face went pale. Using her second soul skill twice in quick succession had drained her heavily. She wouldn't be able to contribute again anytime soon.
"Boom!"
The fused elemental blast exploded right against the spider's face, and the Ice Spear skewered it through the belly.
"Hisssssss!"
The Man-Faced Demon Spider screamed as its body plummeted from the air, its eight spear-like legs flailing in agony.
Tang Wulin rushed in, his right arm glowing with the radiant light of the Golden Dragon Claw, which he slashed toward the falling spider.
Clang!
Golden Dragon Claw clashed against two of the spider's forelegs. The collision rang out like metal striking metal.
But Tang Wulin, now at two rings, had far greater physical strength than before. His strike smashed the spider away, purple blood spraying in the air. The droplets sizzled as they hit the ground, carrying potent venom.
Fortunately, a thin ice barrier coated Tang Wulin's body, shielding him from the venomous spray. Gu Yue had swiftly conjured it from her ice element.
"Hisssss!"
The Man-Faced Demon Spider writhed on the ground, slashing wildly with its legs. But two of its forelegs were already broken—one completely severed, the other barely hanging on.
"Yes! Keep pressing! We can finish it!" Tang Wulin shouted, overjoyed at the sheer power of his Golden Dragon Claw.
But just then, a bone-chilling aura swept over the entire team. The forest fell deathly silent, as if some terrifying existence had arrived.
Roar!
A thunderous roar shook the trees. From the shadows of the forest lumbered a massive golden-furred bear.
Tang Wulin broke out in a cold sweat. "When did it get here?!" He cursed his carelessness—if the beast hadn't roared, they might never have noticed it until it was too late.
"Is that a Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear? But… why does it look different from the records?" Xu Xiaoyan asked uncertainly.
Everyone turned their eyes toward the beast. Emerging fully from the shadows, its form became clear.
Over three meters tall, covered head to toe in gleaming golden fur. Its eyes were cold and merciless, devoid of emotion.
Its arms were abnormally massive and thick, each paw tipped with golden claws over a meter long. When it casually flexed its arms, the claws sliced the air with audible hissing sounds.
Tang Wulin's voice was grim. "It really is a Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear… but like that Man-Faced Demon Spider, it's mutated somehow."
Whoosh!
The golden bear lunged straight at them.
"Scatter!"
Everyone immediately split apart to avoid it. Yet the bear ignored them completely and charged at the Man-Faced Demon Spider instead.
Shhhhck!
Its golden claws tore through the spider. Whether it was the already-broken legs or the cracked carapace that Zero Class had worked so hard to break—none of it mattered. They were shredded like paper.
The Man-Faced Demon Spider let out one last shriek before its eight eyes dimmed into lifelessness. The golden bear lowered its head and devoured it ravenously, utterly ignoring the spider's lethal venom.
"It's… dead? That terrifying spider just died like that?" Xie Xie muttered in disbelief.
Tang Wulin's tone was firm. "Everyone—activate your emergency signals and exit the Ascension Platform! That mutated Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear is at least a thousand-year soul beast. We cannot fight it."
Against a hundred-year beast, they still had some chance. Against a thousand-year one? They would only be slaughtered.
Worse, from the way it had casually eaten the poisonous spider, Tang Wulin knew it would not spare them either.
As captain, he had to ensure his teammates withdrew first. Running was not an option—the bear was far too fast.
Without hesitation, the others activated their emergency beacons and vanished as streaks of light.
Tang Wulin, seeing them safe, was about to activate his own. But then he froze.
The golden bear was staring straight at him. Slowly, it raised one paw.
"It's going to attack… is this really a Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear?" Tang Wulin's body tensed, ready to strike. His hand hovered over the beacon.
And then he stopped.
Not because the beast controlled him. But because of what it did next.
The massive golden paw folded down its thumb, index finger, ring finger, and pinky—leaving only one extended claw pointing directly at him.
Tang Wulin's mind went blank. "It's… mocking me!?"
The realization filled him with boiling fury. Blood surged to his head, and rage overwhelmed reason.
With a roar, he charged forward, Golden Dragon Claw blazing as it struck toward the golden bear.
The beast's expression almost seemed like a smirk.
Clang!
Golden Dragon Claw clashed with Golden Dreadclaw. The impact shook the air—but in the end, the bear's claw overpowered his, raking down toward him.
"My cultivation is still too low… If I were stronger, this wouldn't be the outcome!"
That was Tang Wulin's final thought before his vision went black and his body was forcefully ejected from the Ascension Platform.