Douluo Dalu: Starting Evolution as the Man-Faced Demon Spider

At the very moment Du Hongxue was stabbed to death by Fang Chang, Bai Yu, positioned toward the rear among the hundred or so soul masters, quickly covered Xue Wu's mouth and pulled her as they turned and fled.

Having grown up with Du Hongxue, Bai Yu knew her strength all too well. If even she could be easily killed by this newly mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider, then most of the other soul masters here didn't stand a chance.

The most crucial factor was the nature of the spider itself. From their prior encounters, Bai Yu was well aware that it was a creature that never forgot a grudge.

Given that he and Xue Wu had pursued this mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider several times before, if it recognized them now, they would undoubtedly suffer its wrath. Survival and seeking reinforcements were the only logical choices.

Meanwhile, among the soul masters, those who had initially stepped forward to confront the spider quickly retreated upon seeing Du Hongxue and Lu Lei's tragic deaths.

The remaining group of over a hundred soul masters stood frozen, looking at each other uneasily. No one wanted to give up on the opportunity to kill the mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider, which was now within reach, yet its demonstrated power left them deeply afraid.

"What are you all afraid of? There are so many of us here! No matter how strong it is, there's no way it can beat us all!" someone shouted from within the crowd.

While the others scoffed at the remark, it wasn't entirely wrong—over a hundred soul masters represented a force comparable to a small army. It seemed improbable that a single mutated soul beast could overcome such numbers.

However, soul masters valued their lives too dearly.

Each of them was a young talent in their own right—under 25 years old and already at the three-ring level. Outside of this battlefield, they were revered and led lives of comfort, often occupying significant positions within smaller powers.

The mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider, however, cared nothing for their backgrounds or potential.

Moments ago, three seasoned soul beast hunters had died, followed by two level-39 experts. This grim tally forced the gathered spirit masters to hesitate.

Everyone wanted the rewards, but they also knew that killing this mutated spider would undoubtedly come at the cost of more lives. No one wanted to be cannon fodder.

Some soul masters had already started quietly retreating.

Fang Chang, watching them from the front, felt a feral light flicker in his eyes. The next moment, he launched his attack, charging straight at the group of soul masters.

Flames burst from his body as the sound of a dragon's roar echoed. Black light shimmered across his armor.

Fire Armor Technique, Dragon's Blood Lv1, Harden—every buff he had was activated to its maximum in an instant.

The soul masters, caught off guard, were momentarily stunned by the sight of the charging mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider.

"Is this thing really this reckless?"

Their hesitation evaporated as Fang Chang closed in. They had no choice but to fight back.

Dozens of ranged attacks flew toward Fang Chang, their dazzling array lighting up the sky like a festival of fireworks.

Instead of retreating, Fang Chang leaped forward with his Leap, colliding head-on with the attacks.

Explosions erupted across his body, the cacophony resembling a string of firecrackers on New Year's Eve.

Yet, to their shock, Fang Chang emerged unscathed, lunging toward them once more.

He leaped again, rapidly closing the gap. The distance between him and the soul masters had only been a few dozen meters; now, with two leaps, he was almost upon them.

The soul masters reacted in various ways—some turned and fled, some unleashed desperate attacks, while others shoved their comrades forward as sacrificial pawns.

As chaos spread, their once rectangular formation widened into a square, then devolved into a disordered fan shape.

A black blur streaked into their midst as Fang Chang tore through their ranks. His eight spider legs moved like lethal blades, cutting down the soul masters with horrifying efficiency.

The five closest soul masters fell instantly, their blood spraying in all directions as their lifeless bodies hit the ground.

Panic gripped the remaining soul masters, and their hastily formed formation collapsed entirely.

Attacks were launched haphazardly in all directions, often hitting allies instead of the intended target. Those positioned near the rear fared better, but those at the front were not as lucky—they were either struck by friendly fire or finished off by Fang Chang himself.

Fang Chang grew more ruthless with every kill. His spider legs moved with brutal precision, slashing through the spirit masters as though they were stalks of wheat during harvest.

In less than a minute, the group of over a hundred soul masters had been reduced to nearly half their original number. The survivors, seeing their comrades fall and the mutated spider growing ever more bloodthirsty, scattered in every direction, abandoning any attempt at resistance.

Fang Chang finally stopped himself. He checked his status panel.

HP: 599/1410

The buffs on his body began to fade. Facing so many soul masters had taken a toll on him—it had been a grueling fight.

If not for his evolved defensive attributes, bolstered by his Harden skill, he might have fallen already. His defense now rivaled that of ten-thousand-year soul beasts, but it had still been a close call.

Reflecting on the battle, Fang Chang realized that his rage had clouded his judgment. Being hunted by these humans for so long, nearly losing his life in the process, had ignited a primal fury.

He'd let that fury take over, unleashing a massacre. Now, looking back, even he felt a pang of fear at his own actions.

Before his transmigration, Fang Chang had been a cautious person, the type to schedule monthly health checkups.

But since becoming a Man-Faced Demon Spider and devouring numerous soul beasts, a faint trace of beast-like instincts had crept into his personality.

With a sigh, Fang Chang glanced at the fleeing soul masters but chose not to pursue them. Instead, he turned and headed in another direction.

After about ten minutes, he returned to his lair with a swagger, slipping into the cave.

Thanks to his second evolution, his defensive and speed attributes now surpassed those of the Giant Demon Ape. His attack power and strength were also comparable.

Factoring in his unique skills, he estimated that he could now hold his own against the ape.

Still, Fang Chang knew his current strength wasn't enough. To grow stronger, he needed to find a way to defeat the ape and claim the Soul Ascension Pool it guarded.

For now, he focused on preparing for the battle ahead.

Roughly half an hour later, a new group of human spirit masters gathered outside his lair. Leading them were none other than Bai Yu and Xue Wu, who had fled earlier.

Behind them stood a fearsome sight—the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall.

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