480. Walking Grass

Time slipped away quietly, and the forest outside sparkled under the starry sky.

Inside the forest, it was dark and eerie, the air filled with a chilling aura.

The trees were studded with glowing blades, darts, and arrows, while the ground was littered with scratches and craters.

The silence of the night was broken only by the sound of heavy breathing.

Huff! Huff!
Several broken trees leaned precariously, stained with dark blood.

The battle between Tang San and the Man-Faced Demon Spider was nearing its conclusion.

Tang Hao had already arrived nearby.

Unbeknownst to him, the area was completely shrouded by the Evil God's Heart, preventing him from seeing through the events. All he could do was pace anxiously.


---

Tang San, drenched in blood, clutched his black hammer tightly.

He quickly shoved antidote pills he had prepared earlier into his mouth as he charged at the Man-Faced Demon Spider, which now had six of its eyes blinded and five legs broken.

Tang San hadn’t expected the spider's web to be so troublesome.

His skin was corroded, and the neurotoxin made his head spin.

Hunched over, he bit down hard on his tongue to stay conscious.

He knew that if he could swing his hammer one more time, he would emerge victorious!


---

Bang! Splatter!

As Tang San had hoped, the Clear Sky Hammer smashed all of the spider’s eyes to pulp.

The Zhuge Crossbow’s arrows embedded deeper, releasing black brain matter.

As the spider’s life force faded, Tang San finally felt a hint of relief, but his expression soon changed drastically.

Eyes wide and bloodshot, he suddenly heard a sickening sound.

Thwack!

At the brink of death, the Man-Faced Demon Spider shot one final web at Tang San.

At such close range, Tang San was struck squarely in the face, spewing blood as he was sent flying.

The sticky web tangled him entirely, covering his head as he crashed to the ground and rolled in agony.



“Arghhh!” Tang San screamed in pain.

Struggling, he tore apart the sticky web. His mouth was filled with foul, viscous liquid, and his face bore corrosive scars.

Splurt!

As Tang San spat out fresh blood, the Man-Faced Demon Spider, using its last ounce of strength to shoot its web, collapsed in hatred, breathing its last.

Its carapace shattered, all eight eyes burst, and dark green fluid oozed everywhere.

The once-terrifying creature was now lifeless.

Its body began to glow with a faint purple light as a deep purple spirit ring slowly formed above it.


---

Tang San knelt before the corpse, his mouth still tainted with the spider’s taste.

A twisted smile spread across his face. He had won—he had triumphed!

“Haha… I finally have a spirit ability!”

Tears of joy almost spilled from Tang San’s eyes.

Stumbling, he crawled toward the Man-Faced Demon Spider, sitting cross-legged to meditate and adjust himself.

The spirit ring wouldn’t wait for him; if he delayed too long, it would dissipate.


As Tang San began absorbing the ring, blue-gold light cascaded from the sky to the ground, transforming into Blue Silver Emperor leaves resembling large plantains.

His aura became whole and natural, blending seamlessly with the forest. Without close observation, he was almost undetectable.


---

Up in the treetops, the Ice Emperor lay on Qian Renjue’s shoulder, looking bored.

“Qian Renjue, is it not done yet?” the Ice Emperor asked impatiently.

“Almost.”

Qian Renjue smiled as he picked up the Ice Emperor, holding and playing with her in his hands.



"Qian Renjue! I told you not to play with the front! Ah—!"

The Ice Emperor let out a sharp protest, her scorpion tail stiff and glowing faintly red beneath her carapace.

She gritted her teeth, glaring at Qian Renjue but making no other moves.

“Haha, it was just a slip of the hand,” Qian Renjue chuckled, flipping the icy scorpion in his hands to continue playing with it.

“Hmph!”

The Ice Emperor snorted, suddenly finding the situation less boring.

“Ah—!”

As the Ice Emperor let out a muffled groan, Qian Renxue rolled her eyes and snatched the scorpion away.

It was ridiculous—playing around like this was unproductive, especially with something so unhealthy. It would only lead to wasted energy.

Held in Qian Renxue’s hand, the Ice Emperor went silent once more.


“Sister?”

Qian Renjue looked up at Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue held the scorpion and glanced down at Tang San below, her expression puzzled.

“Jue, didn’t the spirit bone already explode? Why not take it now?”

“Heh heh heh…”

“If you keep laughing like that, I’ll kick you off this tree!”



Caught off guard, Qian Renjue coughed twice and immediately dropped his smug demeanor.

Grinning, he explained, “No rush. Once he’s absorbed it, I can take it just the same.”

“…”

Qian Renxue paused, looking at him with surprise before her lips curled into a smile.

“Jue, I didn’t think you were so skilled at tormenting people.”

“It’s just a spur-of-the-moment idea,” Qian Renjue shrugged, his eyes glowing faintly white as he glanced in Tang Hao’s direction.

Qian Renxue chuckled softly, lowering her icy gaze.

To separate flesh and bone alive… Tang San, how will you endure this?


“Ah—!”

Time passed unknowingly before Tang San’s scream pierced the night. His body convulsed violently, his chest thrusting upward as his upper body arched in a terrifying display.

From either side of his spine, eight fist-sized bulges appeared, swelling ominously.

Then, with a sickening pop, the bulges burst open.

Eight thick, dark purple limbs emerged, extending over three meters in an instant.

Smooth and glistening, the limbs tapered at the ends—they were Spider Spirit Bones!

Four of the spider legs propped Tang San into the air.


---

After some time passed, Tang San let out a low groan and slowly opened his eyes.

At first, his expression was one of joy—he had broken through to Level 31!

But soon, his joy turned to confusion. Did I just turn into a giant spider?!


At the same time, a faint purple-black light flickered on the canopy, and the aura of the Blue Silver Emperor spread across the forest.

“Ah Yin!”

Holding his hammer, the disoriented Qian Renjue finally had a target in sight. His eyes filled with astonishment—not only did he sense Ah Yin, but he also detected Tang San!



Rustle, rustle!

Tang San, struggling to control his new spider legs, barely managed to land on his feet. Immediately, his guard went up.

Taking out his Zhuge Crossbow, he let out a low shout.

“What’s there?!”

Snap!

In Tang San’s view, a few strands of Blue Silver Grass lashed out with explosive force.

From the bushes, a plant emerged—a stalk of blue-gold grass.

Yes, Tang San was certain he wasn’t seeing things. That grass… walked out of the bushes!

Its roots carried clumps of soil in its embrace, and its vine-like leaves trailed on the ground like the legs of an octopus.



“What kind of spirit beast is this?”

Tang San frowned, unable to make sense of it. His expression quickly shifted to alarm.

“Not good!”

Snap!

The Blue Silver Emperor lashed out, its vines whipping through the air with sharp cracks, aiming for Tang San.

Tang San cried out, dodging the attack.

However, his newly acquired spider spirit bones were more of a hindrance than a help, obstructing his movements.

Two purple spirit rings glowed as Tang San swung his Clear Sky Hammer, which expanded in the wind, aiming at the incoming vines.

“Get lost!”

Whoosh—

The vines coiled mid-air, using flexibility to counter brute strength. They wound around the hammer, locking it in place.

Tang San dropped the hammer and retreated, only to let out a pained scream.

“Ah—!”

An attack came from below, piercing through his shoulder and suspending him in the air.

“How is this possible? Blue Silver Grass?!”

Tang San stared at the vines piercing his shoulders and binding his limbs, his eyes filled with disbelief.