"Ice Lock: Ice Vine!"
"Spread!"
Upon arriving at the water's edge, without hesitation, Mu Ningxue unleashed her ice magic, covering the eerie pool with ice vines. She intended to freeze the entire pool with her ice magic.
As the ice began to seal the water, numerous small, spider-like creatures with sinister eyes started emerging from the pool. These seemingly harmless creatures scattered into the nearby weeds.
Boom!
Moments after the small creatures fled, the ice covering the pool shattered into countless fragments, scattering icy crystals into the air. The chilling water surged, sending a large white wave crashing around the area. From within the water, a terrifying black head surfaced, with rows of glowing red eyes glaring menacingly—some at Mo Fan, some at Mu Ningxue, and some at Zhao Manyan.
It was a spider's head, roughly the size of half a room, with a grotesque face covered in twisted, fleshy ridges. Though its body was smaller, the spider's long, hairy legs were unmistakably deadly—sharp enough to pierce through a person's chest with ease!
"It's a spider demon!" Zhao Manyan exclaimed.
Spider-type creatures are infamous for their sinister and cold-blooded nature, known for employing bizarre and unpredictable methods to hunt. Their expertise lies in setting traps, using curses, poison, and mind control—abilities that can catch even the most cautious prey off-guard!
This was undoubtedly a mind-controlling spider demon, likely lying dormant here for years, feasting on countless creatures, and growing to an enormous size. Typically, creatures skilled in these eerie techniques aren't physically strong fighters.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Furious, the spider demon swung its forelimbs, which were more like giant blades. Though it was about 30 meters away from Mo Fan and his group, its limbs sliced through the air as if the distance didn't matter, sending spinning wind blades toward them!
"Light Blessing - Holy Shield!"
Zhao Manyan immediately positioned himself in front of the group, summoning a glowing golden shield to block the incoming attack.
"Wind Disk - Heaven's Net!"
Mu Ningxue's wind spell quickly took form, starting as chaotic gusts and building into a formidable wind barrier. The spider demon, trapped at the center, let out piercing shrieks as its limbs furiously slashed at the shrinking wind net.
Finally, the wind net closed in. However, the spider demon had driven its eight legs deep into the ground, anchoring itself to resist the storm's pull.
The spider's grip on the ground was incredibly strong. Despite Mu Ningxue's wind net attempting to tear it from the earth, the demon barely budged.
"I'll take it from here."
Before Mu Ningxue could make another move, Mo Fan had already finished forming his star pattern.
"Fiery Fist: Nine Palaces!"
The spider demon was only a mid-level warrior creature, and under the power of Mo Fan's third-tier fire spell, it was instantly scorched beyond recognition.
Feeling the searing flames, the spider demon attempted to flee.
But Mu Ningxue was faster, freezing it in place with her ice chains.
"Thunderbolt: Madness Dance!"
As Mo Fan's lightning stars formed underfoot, violent bolts of energy began gathering above the spider demon. A massive thundercloud hovered, crackling with serpentine electric currents. At Mo Fan's command, the purple-black lightning split the sky, striking the spider demon with immense force.
Boom!
The lightning unleashed a spatial shockwave, causing the entire area to tremble!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
More bolts of lightning rained down, crashing into the spider demon and the surrounding earth, leaving the ground shattered and covered in dust. The spider demon's body was torn to pieces!
After Mo Fan's barrage of attacks, the spider demon was completely obliterated.
Watching Mo Fan's display of power, both Mu Ningxue and Zhao Manyan were left stunned.
So powerful! Fire at third-tier, lightning at third-tier as well!
Mo Fan was like a machine of destruction. After unleashing his devastating fire attack, he still had the energy to cast an even more powerful lightning spell!
It wasn't just the spider demon—he could probably take down that Wyvern-Serpent they encountered earlier too.
Mo Fan's fire was evidently from a top-tier spirit seed, its power far beyond what was normal.
With the spider demon vanquished, they collected its remnant soul and headed back to the church. The moment the battle ended, everyone who had been bewitched by the demon felt a sudden relief.
Though they had been aware of the bewitchment thanks to Mo Fan's warning, the lingering effects had made them uncomfortable.
Now that the influence was gone, they immediately realized what had happened.
"Ningxue, are you alright?" Lu Zhenghe was the first to approach, hurrying toward Mu Ningxue.
However, she ignored him and sat down silently. Meanwhile, Mo Fan and Zhao Manyan also found a place to rest.
"Let's go back. We'll head out tomorrow morning." Zhao Manyan suggested, though they weren't severely injured.
"I can't stay here any longer." Luo Song added.
"But we haven't finished the survey! We can't leave yet..." Lu Zhenghe said, panic creeping into his voice, as if terrified of everyone leaving.
"Who cares about the survey when our lives are at stake? I'm not staying here any longer." Xu Dalong retorted angrily.
"Stay if you want, but I'm done with this place!" Liao Mingxuan chimed in.
What kind of monstrous creatures had they encountered?
A mid-level Wyvern-Serpent!
A commander-level Giant lizard!
A mind-controlling spider demon!
Sure, they had survived so far, but luck wouldn't always be on their side.
Truthfully, they could have retreated after facing the giant Wyvern-Serpent. The creature's presence alone signified that this area was the lair of a colossal, terrifying monster.
Staying here any longer was just asking for death.
(End of Chapter)