"Can we go now?" Xiao Wu urged anxiously.
Diyi Hong waved his hand.
A swirl of speed-consciousness swept up the Titan Giant Ape's corpse and stored it in the space ring.
Then he picked up Xiao Wu and flew toward Tang San's location.
They circled around for a bit first.
Tang San had overdrawn his blood and was using his Blue Silver Grass to amplify the strength of his right leg bone.
It wasn't as dangerous as in the original novel—he even had a slight upper hand.
But that wouldn't last.
Diyi Hong used his spiritual consciousness to subtly interfere from time to time—
Just enough to prevent success, but not quite enough to let him kill the Human-Faced Demon Spider.
Instead, Tang San was injured again and again, ultimately forced to activate his soul bone skills to evolve his martial soul, Blue Silver Grass, into Blue Silver Emperor.
He successfuly bound the demon spider.
However—
When he launched his supposedly infallible Zhuge Divine Crossbow, his injured right arm trembled, and the shot went wildly off target!
(Of course, this was thanks to interference from Diyi Hong's divine consciousness.)
Thirty seconds passed.
The evolved Blue Silver Emperor degraded back into ordinary Blue Silver Grass.
The Human-Faced Demon Spider broke free and lunged at Tang San—who was now doubting his entire life.
He, a disciple of the Tang Sect, had actually missed with his hidden weapon?
Unforgivable!
Devastated mentally and physically, Tang San closed his eyes in despair.
Two lifetimes flashed before his eyes and, in the end, paused on one face—
Xiao Wu.
"I'm sorry… Xiao Wu…"
"Brother!"
Tang San heard Xiao Wu's voice—but didn't respond.
He figured it was just a hallucination before death.
"Brother!" Xiao Wu shouted again. "Don't scare me, Brother! Are you okay?!"
This time, the voice was crisp, clear—right in his ear.
"Huh? Xiao Wu, why are you taking off your clothes?" came another male voice.
Tang San's eyes snapped open!
Who's taking off clothes?!
He saw Xiao Wu kneeling beside him, concern in her eyes. Not far away, Diyi Hong had summoned the Ancient Tree of Life, which had wrapped the Human-Faced Demon Spider like a dumpling.
"Why are you here?" Tang San asked in shock. "Xiao Wu, are you okay? Wait… I'm not dead either?"
"Correct, you're not dead," Diyi Hong said with a mocking smile. "But now you owe me two lives. Better start thinking how you'll repay me."
Two lives?
Tang San looked between Xiao Wu and Diyi Hong.
He understood instantly.
He said solemnly, "You saved Xiao Wu and me. I'll definitely repay you one day."
What a touching speech.
But was this the time for grand declarations?
"If I need something from you, I'll ask," Diyi Hong replied bluntly.
People like Tang San needed to be put in their place.
Tang San fell silent and turned to Xiao Wu, still worried.
He asked what had happened.
This time, Xiao Wu didn't lie. She told him honestly—it was Diyi Hong who had killed the Titan Giant Ape.
Tang San was shaken.
The Titan Giant Ape?
A 100,000-year soul beast?!
Even a Title Douluo might not be able to take that thing down!
Killed… by Diyi Hong?
Xiao Wu continued—
"I just happened to break through to level 30, and I found a suitable soul beast. Diyi helped me hunt and absorb the third soul ring."
"I'm a three-ringed Soul Master now~"
"Brother, you're one step behind me."
Tang San nodded, still trying to process the Titan Giant Ape's death.
Xiao Wu smiled happily.
It was like getting a cheat code.
She glanced at the Human-Faced Demon Spider.
Was this the thing that almost killed Tang San?
What an abomination! It deserved to die!
"Huh?" Xiao Wu suddenly said, surprised. "This demon spider is just over 2,000 years old. Xiao San, you have a soul bone amplifier—shouldn't you be able to absorb it?"
Tang San's eyes lit up.
He had just experienced firsthand how terrifying the Human-Faced Demon Spider was.
Its strongest ability—Spider Web Binding—had already been used three times.
What if it had been in perfect condition?
The more he thought about it, the more desirable it became.
Tang San turned to Diyi Hong.
"Diyi, this Human-Faced Demon Spider… it's basically my trophy, right?"
Diyi Hong burst out laughing.
"Your trophy?"
"I could've just left you to die. You want me to let it go so you can fight it again?"
Tang San looked embarrassed.
He had used everything he had to injure the spider.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to restrain.
But now, he was spent.
There was no way he could fight again.
He was furious—but didn't dare to show it.
It was frustrating!
Xiao Wu, knowing Diyi Hong's strength (and the fact he absorbed a 100,000-year soul ring), stepped in to help—
"This demon spider is only 2,000 years old. You can't use it anyway. Just give it to us?"
Diyi Hong laughed.
"If I don't want something, I can give it away, sell it, or toss it in the trash."
"But no one has the right to demand it."
"Especially with such a shameless excuse."
Tang San's face darkened.
That was too harsh…
But he owed Diyi Hong his life. And the guy's fist was bigger.
He didn't dare retaliate, but he really wanted that spirit ring.
So he muttered, "What I said before was wrong. This demon spider is clearly your trophy now."
"It's not useful to you, so… can I absorb it? No sense letting it go to waste."
Diyi Hong nodded with satisfaction.
"Now that's the right attitude."
Tang San smiled, took out his monster-killing dagger, and walked toward the demon spider.
But as he passed Diyi Hong—
BAM!
He got smacked on the forehead and stumbled back several steps.
Rage! Tang San almost snapped.
"Did I say you could have it?" Diyi Hong said coldly. "If this were a normal demon spider, sure. But this one is different."
Tang San froze.
Different?
Could it be… an opportunity?
What opportunity could a soul beast like that have?
Soul bones?
No, a 2,000-year-old soul bone wasn't worth anything to Diyi Hong—especially compared to Tang San's self-grown spirit bones.
Just as he was lost in thought—
Three people approached quickly: Meng Yiran, Chao Tianxiang, and Meng Shu—the latter bearing eight soul rings.
Chao Tianxiang squinted, recognizing the group.
Earlier, she and Meng Yiran had been chasing the Phoenix-Tailed Crest Serpent, but it exploded mysteriously. Could it be their doing?
Meng Shu, however, was more direct.
He saw the still-living Human-Faced Demon Spider and immediately barked—
"We were hunting that demon spider. Hand it over."
As a dignified Soul Douluo, he had every reason to be confident when facing three juniors.
Too bad he was about to kick titanium alloy.
Diyi Hong could've easily wiped them out with spiritual force alone.
But he had a better idea.
He activated the Titan Giant Ape's left palm soul bone.
Soul Bone Skill: Gravity Swamp!
A gravitational field 50 meters wide burst forth.
Then the gravity shifted—
All of it focused on Meng Yiran, behind the group.
Ten Thousand Things Attracted by Heaven!
An overwhelming "pull" launched Meng Yiran forward like a rocket—
Right into Diyi Hong's waiting left hand, by the throat.
"You dare!"
"Courting death!"
Chao Tianxiang and Meng Shu were furious. Their soul power erupted.
A six-ringed Soul Emperor and an eight-ringed Soul Douluo—fourteen soul rings between them, a terrifying display.
Together, they could even pressure a Title Douluo using their Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
But Diyi Hong stood still—calm as a breeze.
A red light shimmered around Xiao Wu—Acacia Heartbroken Red, activating automatically to protect her.
Only Tang San was unprotected.
Caught off guard, he was slammed to the ground by the sheer force of the aura.
Barely propped up on his hands, he gasped for breath.
"Ah! Brother!"
Xiao Wu pounced on Tang San, trying to shield him with her body.
She landed square on his back—
And then…
[Chastity Lock] triggered!
BOOM!!!
Tang San, half-kneeling, suddenly felt like a mountain dropped on his back.
He was crushed straight into the dirt—
Gone without a trace.
Xiao Wu froze.
Then she remembered—
It was the purity defense set by Diyi Hong earlier.
Damn it!
Why is it this strong?!
[God of Emotions: Yes! That's it! Hahaha!]
Diyi Hong laughed out loud, momentarily distracted.
Meng Shu seized the chance, lunging forward to smash Diyi Hong's head in—
You dare touch my precious granddaughter? DIE!!!
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