Douro Continent

Chapter 147 The Human-Faced Spider Soul Ring Beyond the Limits (Part 2)

Within the mist, the cracking sounds of bones echoed intermittently, each time sending a chill down the spines of those around. However, the third spirit ring, which should have appeared with the absorption, remained unmanifested. This proved that Tang San had not yet fully absorbed the Human-Faced Demon Spider's spirit ring.

Dai Mubai whispered to Zhao Wuji with concern, "Teacher Zhao, if this continues, Tang San might be in danger."

Zhao Wuji frowned as well. "I know. But we can't interrupt him now. Otherwise, the consequences will be even worse. Now we can only rely on his willpower. The energy in this spirit ring should be something he can absorb, but his physical condition isn't optimal, and the energy of this Human-Faced Demon Spider spirit ring itself is too violent, which is why this is happening. Hopefully, Tang San can pull through this. Otherwise..."

Only Tang San himself knew the pain he was enduring at this moment. Faced with the energy of the Human-Faced Demon Spider's soul ring, he felt as if his entire body was being cut by countless sharp blades. His internal organs ached everywhere, and the powerful energy was constantly tearing at his body, leaving him in a state of extreme agony.

Actually, Zhao Wuji was slightly mistaken. Because of the rarity of the Human-Faced Demon Spider, even a Grandmaster would find it difficult to determine its true cultivation level. A Soul Master's third Soul Ring can absorb up to 1700 years of Soul Power. Only the fourth Soul Ring can absorb Soul Rings with around 5000 years of cultivation. The fifth Soul Ring's maximum absorption is around 12,000 years. The sixth Soul Ring's maximum absorption is 20,000 years. The seventh Soul Ring's absorption is between 30,000 and 50,000 years, depending on the Soul Master's attributes. Only with the eighth Soul Ring is it possible to absorb Soul Beast Soul Rings with over 50,000 years of cultivation. Only the final ninth Soul Ring has the potential to absorb 100,000-year-old Soul Beast Soul Rings. Of course, among known Soul Masters, no one has yet been able to absorb a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast as their final Soul Ring.

The human-faced demon spider that Tang San killed had a true cultivation level of over two thousand years. Although it had just exceeded that, it had already surpassed the limit that a Soul Master's third Soul Ring could absorb. This is also an important reason why, although Grandmaster knew that the human-faced demon spider would be of great help to Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, he did not particularly approve of Tang San's search for such a Soul Ring.

During the battle, Tang San made a simple assessment of the Man-Faced Demon Spider's strength, but he overlooked one point: the Man-Faced Demon Spider had already been injured by Dragon Duke Meng Shu. Given Meng Shu's immense strength, the injuries he inflicted on the Man-Faced Demon Spider would naturally have significantly impacted its power.

Tang San's situation differs from most Soul Masters because he possesses twin Martial Souls and cultivates the Xuan Tian Gong recorded in the Xuan Tian Treasure Record. His physical resilience far surpasses that of ordinary people. Logically, if it were a more common Soul Beast, absorbing a two-thousand-year-old Soul Ring for his third Soul Ring wouldn't be a major problem. After all, his physical advantages are undeniable.

However, this human-faced demon spider was no ordinary soul beast. Its ferocity and strength made its soul rings extremely domineering, and coupled with the fact that Tang San was not in his best condition, he was immediately plunged into a great crisis.

If Tang San's current situation could be calculated, then his final fate could only be one: his body would be unable to withstand the energy impact of the Human-Faced Demon Spider, causing him to explode and die. After all, that energy had already exceeded the range that he could absorb.

However, some things cannot be calculated. Such as willpower and belief.

When a person's willpower is strong enough, or when they have an unwavering belief, miracles often happen.

At this moment, Tang San was enduring unparalleled pain, but deep in his heart, he held an extremely unwavering belief: to rescue Xiao Wu.

With this belief, he bravely withstood wave after wave of pain, and even though blood was seeping from his body, he continued to fight against the domineering energy in the human-faced demon spider's soul ring.

From a certain perspective, Xiao Wu's capture by the Titan Ape actually benefited Tang San. While absorbing a spirit ring beyond one's limits would certainly bring enormous danger, the rewards would also be immense if successful.

The powerful energy fluctuations continued to rise, and the blood mist surrounding Tang San's body became increasingly pronounced. A faint, fishy odor even seeped from within the blood mist. It was unclear whether this was impurities from Tang San's body or the venom of the Human-Faced Demon Spider.

Just as everyone was as anxious as ants on a hot pan, suddenly, a light footstep caught Zhao Wuji's attention.

"Who?" Zhao Wuji's icy gaze swept in one direction, his soul power suddenly gathering. Tang San had reached the most crucial moment, and he would not allow anyone or any soul beast to disturb him.

"Teacher Zhao." A slender figure ran out of the woods. Upon seeing her, not only Zhao Wuji was stunned, but everyone else was also taken aback. The one who suddenly ran out of the woods was actually Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu looked somewhat disheveled at this moment, with many of her clothes torn and her neat scorpion braids disheveled, but her complexion was very rosy, and she seemed to have matured a bit more than before.

"Xiao Wu, you're not dead?" Oscar realized his words were harsh only after he said them.

Xiao Wu said irritably, "Are you hoping I die? What's going on? This fog... Oh my god, what happened to Xiao San?"

Upon seeing Tang San in the light red mist, Xiao Wu's heart tightened, and she rushed over in three steps at a time.

She was brought here by the Titan Giant Ape. Although the Star Dou Great Forest is vast, it wouldn't be difficult for the Titan Giant Ape, as the king of the forest, to find the Shrek Academy group. All the spirit beasts could be his eyes. After delivering Xiao Wu to the vicinity, the Titan Giant Ape quietly departed.

"Don't disturb him. He's absorbing his third spirit ring." Zhao Wuji quickly stopped Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu exclaimed, "But how could absorbing the third spirit ring turn into this?" Turning her head to look at the corpse of the human-faced demon spider beside her, she understood somewhat. "It's a human-faced demon spider, this is bad. This human-faced demon spider's cultivation exceeded two thousand years. Grandmaster said that the limit for a spirit master's third spirit ring is over seventeen hundred and sixty years. Little Three, he..."

Zhao Wuji was taken aback. "How do you know this human-faced demon spider has two thousand years of cultivation?"

Xiao Wu then realized she had misspoke. "The cultivation level of a Human-Faced Demon Spider can be judged by the length of its legs. Look, this Human-Faced Demon Spider's legs are over three meters long, which is a sign of over two thousand years of cultivation. Don't you know that a thousand-year-old soul beast's cultivation undergoes some obvious changes every thousand years? Just like a hundred-year-old soul beast changes based on a hundred years of cultivation, and a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast changes based on ten thousand years."

Zhao Wuji was somewhat surprised and said, "I really don't know much about that. I didn't expect you to know so much about soul beasts."

Xiao Wu said, "These were all taught by the master." Blaming her slip of the tongue on the master, who was the most knowledgeable about martial spirits, was clearly a good idea. Sure enough, upon hearing her words, everyone's doubts were dispelled.

Zhao Wuji smiled wryly, "Xiao San has already started absorbing this spirit ring. There's no way it can stop now. We can only hope that he can withstand the energy impact from the spirit ring and get through this. By the way, Xiao Wu, how did you escape from the clutches of the Titan Giant Ape? Tell us what happened first!"

Of course, she couldn't tell everyone that it was because the Titan Giant Ape Erming sensed her presence that he specifically came to take her away. Before returning, Xiao Wu had naturally prepared her explanation, and while looking at Tang San with concern, she explained, "I don't know what happened. That Titan Giant Ape grabbed me and ran into the forest. Not far along, there seemed to be a roar like a bull coming from one direction. The Titan Giant Ape seemed very nervous, looked at me, threw me aside, and then ran away."

"The sound of a cow? What kind of cow could make the Titan Ape nervous? And then what happened?" Zhao Wuji frowned.

Fear flashed in Xiao Wu's eyes. "The Titan Ape abandoned me, letting out a roar before leaving. I felt a dizzying sensation and then passed out. When I woke up, it was gone. The scene was terrifying; at least dozens of soul beasts around were stunned, and the weaker ones died from blood flowing from their mouths and noses. I don't know if I should call it good luck or bad luck, but I suddenly discovered that my soul power had broken through to level 30."

Zhao Wuji was startled. "What? You're already level 30? Who's older, you or Tang San?"

Xiao Wu said, "I'm a few months younger than him."

Zhao Wuji was speechless for a moment; the record Tang San had just set had already been changed. However, Xiao Wu's next words made his eyes widen even more.

Xiao Wu said, "I was very scared at the time. Perhaps the increase in my soul power was due to too much external stimulation. I happened to find a thousand-year-old soul beast that was suitable for me while it was unconscious, so I hunted it down and obtained my third soul ring."

"This works too?" The fat man stared at Xiao Wu, looking like he'd just stumbled upon a lucky break.

Xiao Wu looked shaken. "I guess I'm lucky. I thought I was going to die. To avoid being attacked by the surrounding soul beasts after they woke up, I had to kill all the soul beasts that had been stunned. After absorbing my third soul ring, my strength returned, and I was able to walk back according to my memory. I heard some noises coming from this area and finally found you."

(End of this chapter)