Douro Continent

Chapter 303 The Thousand-Year-Old Scaled Beast and the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Demon Spider (Part 2)

"No, unless it's one hundred percent, I will never let you take the risk." This time, it wasn't the master who spoke, but Xiao Wu, who had been quietly listening to them about the flowers.

Xiao Wu suddenly became agitated, even Tang San was taken aback. "Xiao Wu, don't be like this, listen to me, I'll be fine."

Xiao Wu looked at Tang San, her eyes filled with stubbornness. "Absolutely not. Even if it were a nine-thousand-year-old soul beast, I would believe you could try, but a soul beast's cultivation breaking through to ten thousand years is a completely different concept from a thousand-year-old soul beast. Going from a hundred years to a thousand years is a qualitative change, and going from a thousand years to ten thousand years is also a qualitative change. Do you think the soul ring of a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast is so easy to absorb? Putting aside the enormous energy impact, just the residual soul vibration left when you absorb it after its death would be difficult for you to withstand."

"Soul tremor? What's that?" Not only Tang San, but even Grandmaster was somewhat surprised by Xiao Wu's words. He had never heard of the concept of soul tremor before.

Xiao Wu calmly explained, "Soul tremor is a special ability produced by high-level soul beasts after death, before their souls dissipate. Only soul beasts over ten thousand years old possess it. Generally speaking, absorbing a soul ring from a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast requires at least level fifty soul power. Reaching level fifty means that a soul master's various functions have reached a certain level, and their mental strength has also grown to a certain extent. But even so, one must be extremely careful when absorbing a ten-thousand-year-old soul ring. Besides the energy contained in the soul ring, there is the danger of this soul tremor. For adults, especially soul masters above level fifty, the full maturity of their bodies and mental strength greatly reduces the effect of this soul tremor, and generally, soul masters will not be harmed. However, Xiao San, you are only fourteen years old, your body is far from mature, and your soul power is only level forty. How can you take such a risk? Even if your body withstands the impact of the soul ring's energy, once your mental world is destroyed by the soul tremor, then you will become an idiot, do you understand?"

Upon hearing Xiao Wu's words, the master couldn't help but gasp. "Xiao Wu, how do you know all this?"

Xiao Wu paused for a moment, lowered her head, and said, "My mother told me."

"Soul tremor, soul tremor..." Tang San's eyes revealed a thoughtful light.

Xiao Wu thought her words had moved him. "Brother, you promised to protect me forever. So, you absolutely can't be harmed. I'm begging you, please listen to Master. That Human-Faced Demon Spider has six thousand years of cultivation, which is quite impressive. Why risk everything for a ten-thousand-year soul ring?"

Tang San naturally wouldn't explain to Xiao Wu why he chose the Cave Demon Spider. But his decision wasn't swayed by Xiao Wu's words.

"If I can avoid the soul shock, does that mean I can give it a try? I was only 90% sure before, but after hearing what you said, I'm 100% sure now." Tang San rubbed Xiao Wu's head, looking relaxed.

Xiao Wu looked at him suspiciously. "I don't believe you. Brother, you're not lying to me, are you?"

Tang San countered, "Have I ever lied to you?"

Xiao Wu shook her head subconsciously.

Tang San said, "Xiao Wu, have you forgotten the immortal herb 'Wangchuan Qiushui Dew' that I once consumed? With your reminder, and relying on my Purple Demon Eye, I'm absolutely confident that I can prevent that ten-thousand-year-old soul beast from causing any soul shock to me. I can even significantly reduce its resentment towards me. Believe me, I won't joke around with my own life. You're right, I'll save this life to protect you in the future."

Looking at Tang San, Xiao Wu suddenly smiled. Her smile was incredibly beautiful, especially in Tang San's eyes, it was a perfect sight.

Pulling her scorpion braid from behind to the front, Xiao Wu stepped forward, almost pressing herself against Tang San. Her warm, red lips brushed against his ear, and she whispered, "Alright, then go. But brother, remember this: if you die, I will go with you."

Although her voice was soft, the impact on Tang San was comparable to Liu Erlong's outburst the previous night. Especially her last sentence, which was filled with a resolute determination. She was clearly not joking.

Frankly, Tang San was already hesitant. Just as he had said before, he was only 90% confident in absorbing the Earth Demon Spider's soul ring. Even with Xiao Wu's reminder, which helped him avoid soul turmoil, he was still only 90% certain. Absorbing from a higher level meant any uncertainties could arise; how could Tang San possibly escape unscathed?

Tang San certainly didn't want to die, much less gamble with his and Xiao Wu's lives, but at this moment, he had no better choice. Should he really choose the Human-Faced Demon Spider? No. In an instant, he made up his mind. He would never regret his decision. While thorough preparation is important, an unwavering belief in victory is equally crucial. Xiao Wu's words were tantamount to pushing him to the edge of a cliff, just like when he unhesitatingly risked absorbing the Human-Faced Demon Spider's soul ring. For Xiao Wu's sake, he was certain he could pull through. Moreover, he had such thorough preparation.

Thinking of this, Tang San nodded firmly to Xiao Wu, then turned to Flander, "Dean, Teacher Zhao, I need your help. I need that Cave Demon Spider."

Flander said seriously, "Little San, are you really sure? You should understand what the consequences of absorbing it like this will be."

Tang San replied without hesitation, "Dean, I will definitely succeed. Don't forget, I have two martial souls, as well as external soul bones and celestial herbs. So what if it's a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast?"

"Good, that's spirited. Then I wish you success." From Tang San's eyes, Flander saw an unwavering belief. He knew that nothing he said now would make a difference; even Grandmaster and Xiao Wu couldn't persuade him.

At that moment, booming sounds echoed from the nearby woods. Although no one had witnessed it firsthand, they could easily imagine the tragic fate of the scaled beast. This further strengthened their resolve never to provoke Liu Erlong.

Human emotions need an outlet, and this is especially true for women. Liu Erlong's inability to be with the man she loved drove her already intense killing intent to near madness. Born out of wedlock, she had no childhood. To become stronger, to seek justice for her mother in the future, she toiled tirelessly throughout her childhood. But what was the result? Before she could achieve success, her mother had already passed away. From then on, killing became her greatest pleasure. Only when she watched the blood of her enemies flow from her hands, when she saw those hostile lives slip through her fingers, did she feel relief and exhilaration.

Later, even more tragic events befell her and the master. The extreme pain led her to massacre an entire forest of soul beasts. From that point on, the killing became uncontrollable. Anyone who fell into her hands, even those with minor evil, had no chance of survival. Until one day, Flander saw her again. Through his constant comforting words, Liu Erlong finally restrained herself somewhat. After parting ways with Flander, she founded the Blue Tyrant Academy. She secluded herself in the forest within the academy to cultivate her character and control her bloodlust.

The master's appearance was both a blessing and a curse for Liu Erlong. On the one hand, the two were finally reunited, rekindling a spark of hope in her heart. But at the same time, her heart, which had finally calmed down somewhat, began to boil over again. After being rejected by the master several more times, her murderous intent resurfaced, even more intensely than before. If it weren't for Flander and the master, and so many children, her bloodlust would likely have erupted even more violently.

Flanders understood this, and so did the master. But now, who among them could persuade Liu Erlong?

The Flying Claw struck with lightning speed, landing precisely on the Cave Spider.

Perhaps these powerful soul beasts had witnessed the previous fate of the Scaled Beast, or perhaps their intelligence was simply too great. Just as the Flying Claw was about to seize the Cave Demon Spider, the ten-thousand-year-old Cave Demon Spider suddenly moved swiftly. A layer of yellow spider web sprang up from its feet, like a shield blocking its path.

With two soft "plop" sounds, the flying claws pierced the spider web. Flander and Zhao Wuji hurriedly tried to control the claws to fly back, but to their amusement and dismay, while the claws returned, a huge yellow spider web also flew back with them. The word that best describes their current situation is "walking into a trap."

The Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Cave Demon Spider was even more cunning than anyone had imagined. Not only did its Flying Claws retrieve the web, but it also retreated with incredible speed, disappearing behind a towering soul beast in a flash, and then swiftly running towards the distant forest. Its movements were no less swift than those of the Human-Faced Demon Spider.

(End of this chapter)