Chapter 16: Second Soul Ring

It was far easier to find the next soul beast than I had anticipated. In just a few hours, we located our target. The recent encounters with various spiders had given us a general idea of their habitats, and this time, our preparation paid off. Before long, we stumbled upon another Man Faced Demon Spider, this one exuding an aura that suggested it had lived for roughly 7,000 years.

Dugu Bo and Uncle Xin positioned themselves at a safe distance, their watchful eyes tracking my every move.

"This is your moment, Bei," Grandpa said, his voice firm yet encouraging. "Show us the fruits of your hard work."

I nodded, stepping forward. My heart pounded in my chest, but it wasn't fear that fueled me this time, it was determination.

The spider's many eyes locked onto me, its sharp legs clicking ominously against the forest floor. I felt the familiar surge of energy as my martial spirit activated. My Poison Devouring Spider Emperor's power coursed through my veins, and my first spirit ring shone with a brilliant purple glow. The dark green lances of my Eight Spider Lances erupted from my back, gleaming with a venomous sheen. Their presence felt natural now, as if they were an extension of my own body.

The Man-Faced Demon Spider struck first, its incredible speed catching me off guard. It lunged, its razor-sharp legs aiming to skewer me, but I sidestepped just in time. The ground where I had stood split open from the force of its attack.

"Let's see how you handle this," I muttered, raising my hand. My first spirit skill, Venom Thread Bind, activated. From the tips of my Arm Lances, venomous green threads shot out, weaving toward the spider like living snakes. The threads coiled around its legs, binding them tightly. The spider thrashed and shrieked, its strength formidable, but the venom worked quickly. Its movements grew sluggish as the corrosive poison began to eat away at its carapace.

The spider reared back, unleashing a burst of its own poisonous webbing. I leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. With a sharp flick of my lances, I tightened the threads, forcing the beast down. It clawed desperately at the ground, trying to free itself, but my skill held firm.

Seizing the opportunity, I propelled myself forward, my Eight Spider Lances striking with precision. The spider's shriek of pain echoed through the forest as I severed one of its legs. It retaliated with a wild swing of another limb, but I ducked, my movements fluid and precise.

Activating Venom Thread Bind again, I reinforced the threads, doubling their strength. The spider's struggles grew weaker as the poison corroded its body further. Sensing its impending doom, it let out a final, desperate cry and lunged at me with all its remaining strength.

This time, I was ready. I jumped high into the air, my Eight Spider Lances glowing as I channeled their energy. Descending like a predator striking its prey, I plunged the lances into the spider's back, piercing through its tough exterior, and then I used the lances of my arms to give the final blow. The creature convulsed violently before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

Panting heavily, I retracted my lances and stepped back. This victory felt different, more controlled, more assured.

Dugu Bo and Uncle Xin approached, their expressions a mix of pride and amazement.

"Well done," Grandpa said, clapping me on the shoulder. "You handled that like a true expert."

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the spider's lifeless body. The faint glow of its soul ring began to manifest, a deep purple hue that pulsed with energy. But before absorbing the ring, I turned my attention to the spider itself.

The lances emerged once more, piercing into the spider's body. A dark green glow enveloped the corpse as its essence was drawn into the lances. I could feel the power coursing through them, enhancing their strength even further. Though the absorption wasn't enough to evolve the lances, I could tell they had grown stronger.

With that done, I sat cross-legged on the ground, preparing to absorb the soul ring. This time, the process felt different. The sensation was familiar now, and my body was better prepared. The purple ring descended slowly, enveloping me in its energy. I closed my eyes, focusing on harmonizing with the power.

Minutes passed, and the absorption went smoothly. When I opened my eyes, I felt the surge of new strength within me. I stood, my body buzzing with energy as I activated my second spirit ring. The purple glow radiated around me, brighter than before.

"What's the ability?" Dugu Bo asked, his curiosity evident.

I smiled, taking a deep breath before demonstrating. My second spirit skill, Arachnid Shell, activated. I felt my defense double instantly, making me feel nearly invincible.

"The skill boosts my defense by 100% for three minutes," I explained.

Uncle Xin whistled, clearly impressed. "You're advancing faster than I ever thought possible, Bei."

"There's more," I said, my grin widening. "I've reached rank 36. And from the feel of it, I'm not far from rank 37."

Dugu Bo let out a hearty laugh, clapping me on the back. "You're a true prodigy, kid."

I nodded, the weight of his words filling me with pride. But I wasn't done yet.

"I think it's time," I said, my voice steady. "I'm ready to hunt for a 10,000-year soul ring."

The air grew quiet as my words sank in. Grandpa and Uncle Xin exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of pride and concern.

"A black ring," Uncle Xin murmured, shaking his head. "Are you sure you're ready for that?"

I met his gaze, determination burning in my eyes. "I'm sure. Let's find one."