There was a reason I told my family not to kill the spiders we encountered when we went searching for my first soul rings. I had a plan. A plan that would make use of their lives to improve my External Bone. My Eight Spider Lances have always been a unique aspect of my power, but combined with my Poison Devouring Spider Emperor, they hold an even greater secret, the ability to devour and absorb the soul power of my prey. The permanent absorption of a portion of their power should greatly accelerate my cultivation. I could feel it in my bones, quite literally.
After spending a few more weeks enjoying the bustling life of Suotuo City, I decided it was time to act. My first target would be the Sunset Forest, a place teeming with Spider soul beasts. I had memorized the locations where we had encountered them before and decided to start there.
The routine I developed was methodical. Each weak, I would leave Suotuo City at dawn and head toward the Sunset Forest. As the forest canopy closed in overhead, I let my senses sharpen, activating my third spirit ability, Spider-Sense, to detect any hidden dangers or movements in the dense foliage. By midday, I would hunt, engaging in battles with various Spider soul beasts that crossed my path.
The fights were intense but fulfilling. Each spider I felled added to the power of my Eight Spider Lances. After every kill, I allowed my External Bone to pierce the corpse of the spider, drawing in its essence. A faint glow would travel along the lances as they absorbed the lingering energy of the defeated beast. This process was both exhilarating and exhausting, pushing my control over my martial soul to its limits.
By the end of each week, I would return to Suotuo City, covered in dirt and sweat, my body aching but my soul invigorated. The hot meals at the inn and the comfort of my room were small rewards for the week's work. I even began cooking some meals myself, experimenting with the dishes I'd learned during my initial days in the city. It was a strange mix of survival and indulgence, balancing the harshness of the forest with the comforts of urban life.
Weeks turned into months, and my routine remained unchanged. Once I was satisfied with the progress I'd made in the Sunset Forest, I shifted my focus to the Star Dou Forest. The beasts here were stronger and more cunning, their abilities more varied. Every battle honed my skills further, making me faster, sharper, and deadlier.
The hunt became a part of who I was. The act of devouring the essence of my prey wasn't just about gaining power; it was about proving my dominance and solidifying my path as a predator in this world. The thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of growth fueled me like nothing else.
This cycle of hunting and returning to the city for rest and supplies continued for two long years. Over that time, I felt my strength grow exponentially. The Eight Spider Lances became way stronger, their appearance becoming more menacing, with darker hues and crimson streaks running along their edges, a reflection of the power they had absorbed.
As I stood on the edge of the Star Dou Forest one morning, I could feel it, the culmination of years of effort, of battles fought and won. My soul power had grown immensely, but more importantly, I had forged myself into a true hunter, a force to be reckoned with.
However, the spiders of the forest still had more to offer me. And I would take everything they had.
In these two years, my cultivation increased greatly, but I'm still a rank 59 Spirit King. However, I feel that I could experiment a breakthrough at any moment. Just a little more, and I'll have accomplished my goal here.