Flender snorted coldly: "Absorbing the fourth Spirit Ring is nothing special. I can point you in the general direction, but the actual hunting is up to you!"
"Yes, Dean!" the Seven Monsters responded loudly.
Seeing this, Flender immediately activated his Cat-owl Spirit and soared into the sky, weaving through the forest.
After a while, Flender returned.
"Heh, searching for Spirit Beasts in the Sunset Forest is much more comfortable. There aren't terrifying beasts like the Titan Giant Ape here, so we can search freely. Head in this direction!"
Flender had indeed found a suitable Man-faced Demon Spider. After all, the Sunset Forest had many poison-attribute Spirit Beasts.
And since they only needed to find one around seven thousand years old, with Flender's sharp eagle eyes and strong detection abilities, he managed to locate one.
"Let's move out!" Yu Xiaogang shouted excitedly.
Dai Mubai and Tang San took the lead, with Oscar and Ning Rongrong in the middle, while Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing flanked the sides. They quickly advanced in the direction Flender had indicated.
"Xiao San, are you sure you don't need our help later?" Dai Mubai asked.
"Big Brother Dai, you just need to help me block other Spirit Beasts. I'll handle the Man-faced Demon Spider myself. According to Teacher's research, if a Spirit Beast is killed while filled with extreme resentment, the chance of dropping a Soul Bone increases significantly. Last time in the Sunset Forest, that Man-faced Demon Spider was killed by my hidden weapons and died unwillingly. Its resentment was deep, and since it was compatible with my Martial Soul, I obtained an External Soul Bone. I can't overlook any details!"
Dai Mubai and the others exchanged glances.
"Third Brother, we all know how much you hope for another Soul Bone, but the drop rate is one in ten thousand. Don't get your hopes up too high!" Xiao Wu quickly comforted him.
Dai Mubai also patted Tang San's shoulder. He couldn't bear to discourage him. Soul Bones weren't that easy to obtain. The last External Soul Bone was just a stroke of luck. If there were a pattern, wouldn't everyone in the Spirit Hall have Soul Bones?
Tang San nodded. "Don't worry, I'm not that fragile. I'm used to giving my best in everything I do. As long as I pay attention to every detail, even if I don't get an External Soul Bone in the end, I won't have any regrets!"
"Big Brother Dai, Xiao Wu, how can you not believe in Third Brother? We're monsters—we're meant to accomplish the impossible!" Ma Hongjun said proudly. Ever since learning Tang San's identity, he had firmly stood by his side.
"Thanks for the encouragement, Fatty," Tang San replied with a calm smile.
As they spoke, they advanced over ten miles before slowing down at Flender's signal. The surroundings were eerily quiet.
Tang San's expression turned serious. Such silence meant there was a powerful Spirit Beast nearby. They had entered a Spirit Beast's territory.
"Xiao San, your target is just ahead. Be careful. If you can't handle it, call for help anytime!" Flender reminded him.
"Thank you, Dean. I'll be careful."
Tang San cautiously moved forward while Dai Mubai and the others spread out around him, ready to assist at any moment.
Tang San's entire body was tense with muscles, yet his movements appeared careless, as if he sensed no danger at all.
He knew the most dangerous skill of the Man-faced Demon Spider was Spiderweb Restraint, just like his own Third Soul Skill.
The terrifying aspect of this skill lay in its instant activation.
The Man-faced Demon Spider could use Spiderweb Restraint three times a day.
Upon encountering prey, its first reaction was always to spew webbing.
The diameter of the web could span several times the spider's own body size.
Most Spirit Beasts wouldn't be able to dodge it.
Thus, Tang San's plan was to first bait out the Man-faced Demon Spider's Spiderweb Restraint.
Only then would he engage it in combat.
Tang San continued walking forward at a brisk pace.
When he heard rustling sounds, he immediately knew the Man-faced Demon Spider was about to appear.
Unfazed, Tang San kept walking as if nothing was happening.
Suddenly, his body swayed left and right like a phantom.
From above his right side, an enormous web descended.
Tang San inwardly rejoiced.
As expected, the Man-faced Demon Spider had immediately spat out its web.
With extreme agility, he sidestepped several paces to the left.
"Boom!"
An invisible shockwave sent Tang San stumbling forward a few steps.
It was the impact of the web hitting the ground.
Turning his head, Tang San saw a massive spider nearly two meters in diameter not far away.
Most striking were its four-meter-long legs, brimming with lethal power.
The Man-faced Demon Spider he had been longing for had finally appeared.
Seeing Tang San dodge its Spiderweb Restraint,
the spider's abdomen eyes flickered with human-like surprise.
This human's Soul Power fluctuations weren't strong—how had he avoided it?
It couldn't understand.
The Man-faced Demon Spider's eight legs moved rapidly as its entire body leaped forward.
Another web shot out immediately after.
The web's speed increased dramatically during high-speed movement.
If it could ensnare its target, this hunt would be successful.
Yet unbelievably, the human rolled across the ground several times and dodged again.
Now the Man-faced Demon Spider realized—this prey's agility far surpassed what its Spiderweb Restraint could handle.
It didn't attempt another web.
Instead, it sprang forward with legs outstretched, pouncing fiercely at Tang San.
Tang San merely smirked at the spider, as if taunting it.
"Blue Silver Entanglement!"
Countless purplish-black grass blades suddenly appeared between him and the spider.
The Man-faced Demon Spider was instantly entangled.
Enraged,
a layer of eerie purple light shimmered, corroding the Blue Silver Grass instantly.
In mere moments, the spider lunged again.
But this time, it was met with dozens of white streaks.
Tang San's hidden weapons.
Needles and throwing knives flew in uncountable numbers.
Their trajectories were bizarre, all aimed at the spider's abdomen.
"Screech!"
The Man-faced Demon Spider slammed onto the ground, letting its rounded carapace absorb every projectile.
Sparks flew as the spider's hardened shell blocked Tang San's assault.
Seizing this opening, Tang San fled outward again.
The Man-faced Demon Spider wouldn't let its prey escape.
It was thoroughly provoked now.
A pungent odor spread as corrosive mucus coated its eight legs.
Doubling its speed, it charged at Tang San.
But then came an unexpected skill—
Spiderweb Restraint.
Tang San could use it too.
A massive web several meters wide shot toward the Man-faced Demon Spider.
Once again interrupting its attack.
A look of astonishment appeared in its eyes.
Could this be one of its own kind?
Seizing the opportunity, Tang San fired another bolt from his Tight-backed Patterned Crossbow.
Forcing the Man-faced Demon Spider to slow down again.
For the moment, neither human nor spider could gain the upper hand, locked in a heated battle.
(End of Chapter)