Chapter 91: A Cheap MMORPG Script and a Test
Guang Ling and Dugu Bo prided themselves on being well traveled and knowledgeable there wasn't much they hadn't seen.
But a soul beast like this Man Faced Demon Spider, one that refused to flee, ignored its own injuries, and was hell bent on attacking Dugu Yan as if it wouldn't rest until it was killed?
This was definitely a first.
In the silence, Guang Ling turned to Dugu Bo.
"The girl's here for the first time, but are you sure you didn't do something in this forest before? Maybe that's why this Man Faced Demon Spider is so fixated on her?"
Dugu Bo's face twitched. He was utterly disgusted by Guang Ling's habit of throwing blame at him whenever something weird happened.
"First of all, I've never encountered a Man Faced Demon Spider in my life. Second, even if I had, do you really think one could have escaped me? And third, are you seriously suggesting that this spider can track grudges through bloodlines? Dugu Yan's aura is completely different after her martial soul evolved!"
Guang Ling didn't seem bothered by his rebuttal and casually replied, "Well, aside from that, I really can't think of another reason why such a cunning and sinister creature would rather burn itself alive than stop attacking the girl."
"That's not true," Dugu Bo instinctively countered. "What if this is the 'great reward' Han Li hinted at when he told Dugu Yan to wait before obtaining her soul ring?"
The moment the words left his mouth, both he and Guang Ling froze.
They turned in unison to stare at Han Li, who had been silent this entire time.
Dugu Yan, who had been frustrated by the ridiculous battle, also brightened up and shifted her gaze toward him.
Faced with three expectant stares, Han Li felt like a herd of alpacas was stampeding through his mind.
Honestly, he had already suspected this was going to happen when Guang Ling started shifting blame earlier.
But he really didn't want to acknowledge that this was another "preordained opportunity."
Because, quite frankly, this was ridiculous.
What kind of fate just forcibly delivers a soul beast on a silver platter?
This thing wasn't even following the basic survival instincts of soul beasts anymore!
It was like playing a cheap MMORPG where he was the VIP whale, and the game company was bending over backward to cater to his every desire customizing the plot just for him.
But looking down at the spider, which was now barely able to move and whose aura was growing weaker, he could only suppress his frustration and say:
"Maybe. Anyway, let's check it out first. Yan , put out the fire for now let's not let it die just yet. We need to study it a bit."
Hearing this, the others could only nod. After all, they were just as curious about what was going on with this spider.
The four of them landed a short distance away, doing their best to endure the stench of burnt flesh as they observed the dying Man Faced Demon Spider.
Despite being gravely injured, it continued clawing at the ground with its legs, trying to move but failing.
And even now, it refused to take its eyes off Dugu Yan, letting out hoarse, angry screeches.
No one could tell if it was out of rage or simply from the pain.
"...It's certainly determined."
Guang Ling sighed, almost admiring the spider's persistence.
The others gave him a speechless glance before resuming their inspection.
"If this really is Dugu Yan's so called 'opportunity,' we can't just use it for her third soul ring," Dugu Bo said firmly, shaking his head.
"If this was before, maybe. But now? It's barely over two thousand years old, and its attributes don't even perfectly match. It'd be a complete waste of a soul ring slot."
Guang Ling shot him a look of disdain.
"Have some ambition, will you? Why are you so fixated on the soul ring? What if it's a soul bone?"
He then turned to Han Li, silently seeking his opinion.
Han Li nodded. "Master has a point. But even if it is a soul bone, two thousand years is a bit low."
Then, as if reminding them of something obvious, he added, "Aren't you two forgetting about our three other 'guests'?"
Dugu Bo blinked.
"Three guests… soul bone…"
His eyes lit up.
"That's right! Those three! If this works, we're hitting the jackpot!"
Without waiting another second, he turned and dashed off at full speed, heading toward where they had left the three fallen soul masters.
"Stay put! I'll be back with them soon. Man Faced Demon Spider, you better not die before I return!"
With that, he vanished.
Guang Ling, watching his disappearing figure, smacked his forehead.
"Right… how did I forget about that?"
His gaze toward the Man Faced Demon Spider changed entirely it was no longer an oddity.
It was a treasure.
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan was still lost.
"Han Li, what's going on with Grandpa?" she whispered, leaning closer to him.
"It's a good thing, Yan . If our guess is correct, you'll be getting a very strong soul bone soon."
Han Li smiled but didn't elaborate further.
Some surprises were best left for the reveal.
Dugu Bo returned swiftly of course, that was to be expected, given that the fallen soul masters had been left nearby for protection.
With a casual flick of his soul power, he tossed the three captives onto the ground.
As they struggled to their feet, Han Li gave them a quick once over before pointing at the physically strongest among them a Soul Master on the verge of reaching Soul Ancestor rank.
"You," he said, voice cold and emotionless.
"I'll unlock your soul power. You're going to kill that spider. If you succeed in absorbing its soul ring, I'll let you live and throw you into Slaughter City. What happens to you after that is up to fate.
"Deal?"
The man spat at him.
"Ptui! Damn Martial Soul Hall scum. Just kill me if you want I don't know what the hell you're trying to do, but if you think I'll do your bidding, you can go straight to hell! I'd rather "
Crack.
His words were cut off as Han Li snapped his neck.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed a small fireball at the corpse.
The remains were quickly incinerated.
Han Li had named this move Fire Bullet Technique.
The other two captives swallowed hard, lowering their heads in silence.
Even they wanted to live.
"Alright, now there's one less competitor," Han Li said, flashing a disturbingly kind smile.
"Same conditions. Which one of you wants to do it?"
"I I will! I'm at Rank 40!"
The remaining Soul Master immediately spoke up, cutting off the Soul Elder beside him.
"Good. You're up."
Han Li tossed him a pill and gestured toward the near dead spider.
The man didn't hesitate. He caught the pill and swallowed it instantly.
Within a minute, his soul power surged back to life.
A flicker of excitement crossed his face, but he quickly suppressed it under the weight of four intense stares.
Without wasting time, he summoned his martial soul a bloodstained whip.
His third soul ring lit up as the whip stiffened into a sharp, spear like shape.
With a powerful swing, the weapon pierced straight into the Man Faced Demon Spider's head.
The creature twitched violently, struggling a few final times before its life slipped away.
And in its last moment, it weakly twitched one of its legs… toward Dugu Yan.
(End of Chapter)
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