Chapter 72: The Predestined Eight Spider Lances
The soul ring of the Man-Faced Demon Spider wasn't suitable, so Dragon Duke and Snake Granny didn't linger and promptly left.
Xiao Yu saw this and didn't offer more help. With Meng Shu's strength, finding a third soul ring for Meng Yiran was easy.
Helping him capture a predetermined soul beast nearby was simple, but scouring the entire Star Dou Forest for a thousand-year-level soul beast would seem excessive. It might even make Meng Shu feel Xiao Yu was being too pretentious, ruining the goodwill earned earlier.
Once Meng Shu and his group were far enough, Xiao Yu approached the still-breathing Man-Faced Demon Spider. He channeled his soul power and struck it, shattering the spider into pieces.
"Brother Xiao Yu, what are you doing?" Ye Lingling asked curiously. In the past, Xiao Yu would release unsuitable soul beasts. Why was he so ruthless with this one today? Brother Xiao Yu was already a Soul Emperor; he didn't need a soul ring from a mere two-thousand-year-old beast.
"I just remembered that Elders Yang Wudi and Dugu Bo are interested in the mixed poison of the Man-Faced Demon Spider. I'm collecting some venom for their research," Xiao Yu smiled slightly. This was indeed a valid reason, as Yang Wudi and Dugu Bo had mentioned it before. Now, while collecting the venom, Xiao Yu happened to discover the presence of an external soul bone, which was also plausible.
Xiao Yu took out several jade bottles from his storage soul guide. He carefully used his soul power to gather the venom drop by drop into the bottles. He didn't dare touch this stuff with his hands.
While collecting the venom, he simultaneously used his spiritual power to scan the remains of the Man-Faced Demon Spider, trying to locate the external soul bone. But no matter how thoroughly Xiao Yu scanned every piece of the Man-Faced Demon Spider's corpse, not even the smallest corner was overlooked. Yet, he couldn't find any trace of a soul bone.
Where were the Eight Spider Lances?
Xiao Yu searched once more and confirmed that this Man-Faced Demon Spider definitely didn't have a soul bone.
So it's true! Xiao Yu raised his head, gazing at the starry sky, as if trying to pierce through the clouds and reach the heavens.
Asura God, Sea God—it was all your doing!
He had suspected it all along. How could it be that such a coincidence occurred, where a mere two-thousand-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider produced an external soul bone with a value no less than a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, ultimately becoming part of a divine set?
It seemed that the Eight Spider Lances were a gift from the Sea God to Tang San. Or perhaps they were meant to evolve into the Sea God's Eight Wings from the very beginning.
Although he didn't obtain the Eight Spider Lances, Xiao Yu had at least confirmed one thing. This wasn't entirely a loss for him. In future encounters with Tang San, he would have to be extremely cautious. Who knew if those two shameless gods would break the rules and descend with divine projections to assist Tang San?
After some time passed, Hui Huo finished absorbing the hundred-thousand-year soul ring. His soul power directly broke through from level ninety to ninety-two.
Although both objectives of this trip weren't fully achieved, it seemed that the Eight Spider Lances were destined to elude Xiao Yu. With no reason to stay in the Star Dou Forest any longer, and uncertain when the Sky Blue Bull Python might sense something was wrong, this place was no longer safe to stay. The group quickly packed up and left the Star Dou Forest, heading toward Soto City.
As Xiao Yu and his companions departed, about a hundred miles away, Tang San sat cross-legged. His Blue Silver Grass martial spirit quietly released from his palm as he absorbed a purple thousand-year soul ring.
Not far ahead, the corpse of another Man-Faced Demon Spider lay still. Unlike in the original story, this Man-Faced Demon Spider was only about fifteen hundred years old. Tang San wasn't fighting alone. With the help of Zhao Wuji and the other Shrek companions, Tang San had easily killed it.
Although its age wasn't extraordinary, the Man-Faced Demon Spider was still a nightmare for smaller soul beasts. Its ferocity and brutality were inherent. Even so, Tang San was finding it difficult to absorb, with sweat beading on his forehead.
Xiao Wu watched Tang San with a face full of worry, muttering to herself, "Brother, please don't let anything happen to you!"
"Xiao Wu, don't worry!" Dai Mubai, standing in front of Xiao Wu, tried to reassure her with a smile. "Xiao San has exceptional talent and strong willpower. A mere Man-Faced Demon Spider soul ring won't defeat him!"
As if to prove Dai Mubai right, the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's hands emitted a dazzling light. The originally dark Blue Silver Grass now gave off a faint purple glow, a sign of the Man-Faced Demon Spider's venom being integrated into it.
"This kid Tang San really is a genius. In just under half an hour, he's withstood the energy impact of a thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider soul ring. Now it's just a matter of converting the soul power; he should wake up soon!"
Since he hadn't experienced Tang Hao's wrath, Zhao Wuji merely regarded Tang San as a talented commoner. He had no idea about Tang San's background, and witnessing this scene, he couldn't help but be amazed. His attitude toward Tang San began to shift.
"Ah—"
Just as Xiao Wu breathed a sigh of relief, Tang San suddenly let out a painful scream, startling Xiao Wu and making her heart race again.
Tang San, who had been sitting cross-legged, began to convulse. His clothes tore apart as eight nearly three-meter-long spider legs from the Man-Faced Demon Spider emerged from his back. The predestined Eight Spider Lances had finally manifested on Tang San's back.
In the void, a blue figure floated by, murmuring, "Tang San, I've entrusted you with the Sea God's Eight Wings. Don't let me down!"
While Tang San was absorbing the soul ring and the Eight Spider Lances soul bone, someone else in the Star Dou Forest was also absorbing her third soul ring—Meng Yiran.
For a Soul Douluo like Meng Shu, finding a third soul ring for his granddaughter wasn't difficult. Initially, he hadn't taken it too seriously.
After parting ways with Xiao Yu, he quickly found a new target. This time, with fewer disruptions, he confirmed the soul beast's age was suitable and struck with full force. An eighty-plus-level Soul Douluo going all out left no room for the thousand-year soul beast to resist.
As Meng Yiran absorbed the soul ring, Serpent Granny Chaotianxiang walked over to Dragon Duke Meng Shu's side. The two had been together for nearly fifty years and understood each other's thoughts without needing words.
Chaotianxiang broke the silence, "You're thinking about that Xiao Yu from the Nine Stars Palace, aren't you?"
Meng Shu nodded, "That young man is impressive, and the foundation of the Nine Stars Palace is indeed formidable. We both know that with our age, we won't be able to protect Yiran for many more years. Before we go, we need to find a good place for her."
"But we've only met Xiao Yu once; it's too soon to make a decision," Chaotianxiang said after some thought. "I've heard that the Nine Stars Palace has established a Nine Stars Academy under their sect's name, and it has a good reputation. Why not let Yiran enroll there and observe for a while?"
Meng Shu pondered briefly and then nodded, "Alright, let's have Yiran enroll and see how it goes!"
(End of Chapter)
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