Man Faced Demon Spider

Noting Tang Wulin's hesitation, Anping advised, "Fight. At this speed, escape isn't an option."

"Agreed," Tang Wulin nodded.

As the spider legs bent, propelling it forward, Anping unleashed a rapid wind blade technique, severing one leg that blocked its path. Simultaneously, Tang Wulin hurled his forging hammer, ensnared by a piece of blue silver grass, striking another leg with a resounding thud.

The Human-Faced Demon Spider, airborne, was forcefully struck and plummeted with a resounding scream. Gu Yuena swiftly conjured a vortex of wind and fire elements, creating a fiery maelstrom beneath the falling creature.

The Man-Faced Demon Spider, scorched and wounded, staggered upon hitting the ground. Raising its spider legs to regain composure, its cries grew more piercing as cold eyes fixated on the group.

Wang Jinxi swiftly deployed his first soul skill, Dark Sky Curtain, shrouding both the Man-Faced Demon Spider and the entire group. Within the ethereal curtain, only those Wang Jinxi marked retained clear vision.

Blinded, the spider retaliated by swelling its abdomen, expelling a yellow-green light towards their position. Responding swiftly, Gu Yuena conjured an ice wall just as the venomous discharge met their location. The corrosive poison hissed against the ice, momentarily held at bay.

Before the threat could escalate, Anping shielded the marked group, delivering a swift cutting technique to the spider's human face. The resulting scream echoed sharply as a torrent of yellow-green venom gushed from the wound.

With a resounding crash, the Man-Faced Demon Spider convulsed on the ground, twitching in its final moments. Eventually, a ball of yellow aura emerged from its body, signaling the end of the perilous encounter. The group exhaled in collective relief as they witnessed the dissipating aura.

Wu Zhangkong, fixated on the external screen, finally exhaled a relieved breath. The growth of these students had been a constant observation for him. Facing a formidable opponent like the Man-Faced Demon Spider, witnessing his students triumph filled him with a sense of pride and relief, a rare smile gracing his usually stoic countenance.

Beside him, the spiritual master, too, displayed surprise at the students' rapid progress. Observing their practices on the Soul Ascension Platform, he shared in the astonishment. Turning to Wu Zhangkong, he remarked, "Teacher Wu, your students showcase remarkable talent. Have you considered having them join the Spirit Pagoda?"

Wu Zhangkong, ever the pragmatic mentor, wore a thoughtful expression. Considering the potential benefits, he pondered the prospect of attracting a few of them to join the Tang Sect.

Responding coolly, Wu Zhangkong stated, "I don't hold the final say, and they are merely children. Their primary focus should be on their studies."

The Spiritual Master acknowledged, "If they decide to join the Spirit Pagoda in the future, I hope Teacher Wu won't impede their choice."

Wu Zhangkong nodded, keeping his belief in their ability to make the right decisions. In his mind, the Tang Sect offered unparalleled skills and treatment, surpassing the allure of the Spirit Pagoda.

As they returned to observing the screen, the two conversed casually, awaiting the unfolding events within the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Meanwhile, within the platform, oblivious to the external discussions, Wang Jinxi expressed his elation after defeating the Man-Faced Demon Spider. "We did it!"

Xie Xie, slightly irked, retorted, "Why so excited? You just used a soul skill."

Wang Jinxi, sporting a proud grin, defended himself, "I used a soul skill too, and you didn't even get a chance to release yours."

Aware of the poisonous nature of the Man-Faced Demon Spider, Wang Jinxi's tease was meant in good spirits.

Tang Wulin gently patted Xie Xie on the shoulder, putting an end to any brewing confrontation. "Alright, let's focus on recovering our soul power quickly. Zhang Yangzi and Xie Xie haven't exerted much. Stay vigilant to our surroundings."

Seated, they commenced the process of replenishing their spent energy. While occasional soul beasts approached, most hesitated to draw near, sensing the lingering presence of the vanquished Man-Faced Demon Spider.

The passing three hours saw the group successfully meet the survival requirement set by Teacher Wu. Tang Wulin surveyed his comrades and proposed, "Teacher Wu's required time has elapsed. Do we depart or venture further to encounter more soul beasts?"

Xie Xie, excitement evident in his tone, declared, "I've been itching for more soul beasts. My dagger is eager for action."

Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi, sharing the sentiment, expressed their readiness to continue. They recognized the growth in their strength and combat skills through the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Tang Wulin, anticipating the varying opinions, was particularly concerned about Anping and Gu Yuena. Their choices would impact the group's dynamic moving forward. Encouraged by the burning determination in their gazes, Tang Wulin felt reassured as both Anping and Gu Yuena nodded in agreement to continue.

"Alright, let's press on," Tang Wulin announced, eager to garner more benefits from the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Setting forth in a random direction, the group encountered minimal challenges initially, thanks to the dual alerts from Anping and Wang Jinxi. Their exploration proceeded smoothly, steering clear of any particularly swift or formidable soul beasts.

Anping soon relayed a message, "Two soul masters approaching. They're not fast, likely aware of our presence."

Tang Wulin cautioned, "Prepare for a potential encounter."

Soon, the two figures materialized before them – a young man with three soul rings, two yellow and one purple, wielding a staff with an ice-blue gem; and a little girl with light blue hair and a smaller ice staff, adorned with a yellow soul ring. Their arrival marked the commencement of a potential new challenge for the group.

Anping muttered under his breath, "Meeting them after all this time, can it be a mere coincidence?"

Curious, Gu Yuena asked, "What did you say?"

Anping shook his head dismissively, "Nothing."

The approaching duo, moving at a deliberate pace, didn't seem to be in a hurry. As they drew nearer, the young man recognized the rich auras emanating from the group – unmistakably Eastsea Academy students.

Stepping forward, he issued a stern command, "Voluntarily exit the Spirit Ascension Platform and leave the residual spiritual power halo behind. Spare yourselves unnecessary pain."

Xie Xie, unimpressed, retorted with a touch of disdain, "Is this a humanoid soul beast? Didn't know soul beasts can speak human now. Evolution's moving fast."

Little did Xie Xie realize that his initial demeanor upon entering school mirrored the one he now derided.

The young man, irked by Xie Xie's audacity, pointed his ice staff, conjuring a pale blue ice wheel aimed at Xie Xie. Reacting swiftly, Xie Xie slashed with his light dragon dagger, expecting a collision. To his surprise, the ice wheel changed course mid-air, bypassing the dagger and hurtling towards him.

Quick reflexes saved Xie Xie as he ducked, narrowly avoiding the speeding ice wheel. seizing the opportunity, Tang Wulin swiftly hurled his forging hammer wrapped in bluesilver grass. A resounding crash ensued as the ice wheel shattered into icy fragments.

The young man, visibly taken aback, hadn't anticipated the power behind Tang Wulin's throw. Reacting swiftly, Tang Wulin directed his bluesilver grass toward the young man while retracting the hammer. Undeterred, Xie Xie surged forward, aligning with Tang Wulin's attack.

As the tension mounted, the encounter with the familiar faces unfolded, presenting an unexpected clash on the Spirit Ascension Platform.