Chapter 83: A 100,000-Year-Old Soul Beast

The poison exuded by the Death Spider Emperor was extraordinarily potent. In just a few breaths, the surrounding vegetation withered entirely, leaving a barren wasteland within a hundred-meter radius. For ordinary humans, and even most soul masters, entering this area would be a certain death sentence.

Only Ye Hao was an exception.

As the possessor of the Death Spider Emperor martial soul, Ye Hao naturally emitted a unique magnetic field when activating his martial soul—a field laced with the venom of the Death Spider Emperor.

However, due to his current soul power rank, Ye Hao was unable to fully control this magnetic field.

When Ye Hao had previously inquired about this issue, the three academy elders had given him an answer: Domain.

Domains were exceedingly rare among soul masters, even on a continent with tens of thousands of practitioners. Ye Hao's first martial soul, the Death Spider Emperor, possessed an innate Death Domain, an immensely domineering ability.

Within this domain, the venom of the Death Spider Emperor would spread throughout the area, transforming it into a living hell. For soul masters and ordinary humans, it was a fatal environment. Once poisoned, their bodies would gradually weaken until they succumbed to death.

Now, the Death Spider Emperor before Ye Hao was clearly unleashing its Death Domain. It suddenly made sense why the soul beasts had fled in such a frenzy earlier—everything added up.

Typically, few soul beasts possessed domains. Notable examples included the Dark Devilgod Tiger, as well as the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python of Star Dou Forest. This particular Death Spider Emperor's innate Death Domain made it a terrifying presence.

Standing before the monstrous Death Spider Emperor, Ye Hao sighed softly.

"Hey, buddy, what's your deal?"

The massive beast didn't answer. Instead, it opened its grotesque maw, preparing to swallow Ye Hao whole.

Ye Hao had no escape. As a mere Soul Elder, what could he possibly do against this titanic creature? And it had an innate domain to boot!

For a brief moment, Ye Hao wondered—could it be that this Death Spider Emperor was the one who had summoned him here?

But the beast didn't give him time to think. Its enormous maw lunged toward him.

Just then, a faint purple light flashed from Ye Hao's brow.

The next instant, he summoned the Death God's Heart into his palm, gripping it tightly.

"Skill: Death's Gaze."

Ye Hao murmured under his breath. The Death God's Heart erupted in his hand, splitting into six smooth, mirror-like panels. In their polished surfaces, Ye Hao could see his own reflection.

Then, within the mirrors, a single purple eye appeared—radiating intense killing intent.

The eye locked onto the Death Spider Emperor.

In an instant, the Death Domain shattered!

The effect of Death's Gaze immobilized the Death Spider Emperor, freezing it in place.

Ye Hao knew that this skill only worked for a few seconds, so he immediately activated another ability:

"Skill: Abyssal Bind."

At his command, the six mirrors began to spin rapidly around the immobilized beast. From each mirror, fiery purple chains emerged, wrapping tightly around the spider's massive body, restraining it completely.

Under Ye Hao's watchful gaze, the once ten-meter-tall Death Spider Emperor began to shrink rapidly. Simultaneously, the six mirrors closed in on it.

Despite the creature's attempts to resist, the infernal chains left it no chance to retaliate.

Finally, the six mirrors fully closed, forming once again into the compact, ten-centimeter Death God's Heart.

Holding the Death God's Heart in his hand, Ye Hao could see the restrained Death Spider Emperor trapped within its confines.

"Not so cocky now, huh? Where'd all that bravado go?" Ye Hao smirked.

Just as he was admiring his handiwork, an unexpected voice rang out.

"You despicable human! I'll kill you!"

Ye Hao froze.

"WHAT?! It can talk?!"

The tiny Death Spider Emperor glared at him from within the Heart's mirrors, its cold eyes filled with fury.

"Yeah, I can talk, you vile human!" the spider spat back.

But before it could continue, the chains binding it flared with purple lightning, shocking it violently.

Sizzle! Zap!

The Death Spider Emperor convulsed, emitting a pitiful groan as smoke rose from its battered form.

"Wow, that's brutal…" Ye Hao muttered, watching the spectacle with a mixture of amusement and pity.

The beast struggled to speak through its pain. "You cowardly human… I…"

"Enough!" Ye Hao interrupted. "Speak clearly. Just nod or shake your head from now on, okay?"

The Death Spider Emperor glared at him but ultimately nodded begrudgingly.

"Why did you attack me?"

"I thought you'd taste good," the spider replied bluntly.

Before it could say more, another surge of purple lightning coursed through its body, sending it into another fit of spasms.

Sizzle!

It coughed out a cloud of black smoke, clearly worse for wear.

"Fine! I'll tell you! I sensed a familiar aura—someone of my kind—so I came to investigate. But then I found you, a despicable human, wielding my kind as your martial soul! Naturally, I…"

"You naturally wanted to eat me?" Ye Hao interjected dryly.

The spider nodded.

Another zap of lightning lit up its body, silencing it.

"Alright, enough. No need for more theatrics," Ye Hao sighed, trying to stifle his laughter.

Clearing his throat, he asked, "You can talk, so that means…"

"I am a 100,000-year soul beast," the Death Spider Emperor admitted grudgingly. "I only recently broke through the threshold. But then I ran into you, you freak!"

Before it could continue, another lightning surge silenced its complaints. This time, Ye Hao swore he saw tears glistening in its eyes.

Shaking his head, Ye Hao released the chains binding the beast.

The Death God's Heart pulsed faintly in his hand, its glow dimming as the restrained spider regained its freedom.

"A 100,000-year-old soul beast…" Ye Hao murmured. His lips curled into a grin. "This is going to be interesting."