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

Inside the storage room, Fang Chang let out a sigh of relief. This room was practically adjacent to the passage leading to the valley, and he had overheard Hu Liena and the others' conversation clearly.

Thanks to Yan's arrogance, a trait nurtured by the Spirit Hall since childhood, Fang Chang had been given an opportunity to escape. Yan's excessive confidence worked in Fang Chang's favor.

Although his strength had increased significantly, Fang Chang still felt uneasy about facing three four-ring Soul Masters simultaneously.

To make matters worse, his current condition was less than ideal—his health bar wasn't full, and his hardening skill was still on cooldown.

After waiting for a while and ensuring there was no movement in the main hall, Fang Chang cautiously peeked his head out from the storage room into the hallway.

His small, eight-eyed head emerged slightly from the passage entrance, scanning the hall with vigilance. Once he confirmed that Hu Liena and her group had gone far away, he slowly crept out.

He glanced at the other passages leading out of the hall, his expression tinged with hesitation.

He had no idea which path Hu Liena and her group had taken. If he chose another passage to escape, he might run straight into them.

Even if he was lucky enough to avoid them, it was highly likely that other exits would be guarded by Soul Masters. Trying to leave would inevitably lead to a tough battle.

But hiding here wasn't a viable solution either—eventually, Hu Liena and her group would find him. He was stuck in a difficult situation, unable to move forward or retreat.

At that moment, his gaze fell on the passage behind him—the one leading to the valley where the Giant Demon Ape resided.

In his previous life, there was a popular saying: The most dangerous place is often the safest.

Moreover, there was a particularly arrogant Giant Demon Ape in that valley. In the past, Fang Chang wouldn't have been able to take it on. But now…

With that thought, Fang Chang quickly made up his mind. He turned around, and his body, shrouded in black mist, disappeared into the passage.

In the valley filled with spiritual herbs and fruits, five Soul Masters who had followed Hu Liena's group were now on the brink of despair, forced into a dead-end by the Giant Demon Ape.

One of the five had already died, while another had lost an arm and a leg and lay on the ground, utterly incapacitated. The remaining three were badly injured, barely holding on.

The Giant Demon Ape grew increasingly frenzied, its attacks coming faster and faster.

The three human Soul Masters formed a circle, pooling their Soul Power in a desperate attempt to fend off its onslaught.

Their eyes were filled with despair, deeply regretting their decision to join in the commotion and descend into the valley. If they had stayed obediently on the surface, they wouldn't have ended up like this.

Suddenly, one of them noticed something and a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.

He pointed towards the entrance they had come through.

"Look! Just hold on a little longer—someone's coming!"

The other two perked up, forcing themselves to muster their remaining energy. They turned in the direction he pointed.

At the entrance, a black "hook" about as thick as a child's arm extended onto the ground. Then came a second, a third…

"Is someone really coming?" The three clung to this hope like a dying flame. Their Soul Power shields grew stronger, more refined.

But then they saw something. A larger, flatter "hook" emerged from the entrance. The shape looked disturbingly familiar…

The hooks tugged, pulling out a pitch-black head. Then came a body, wrapped in ominous black mist.

This wasn't a person—it was a mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider!

In an instant, their eyes turned bleak, their last shred of hope extinguished.

At that very moment, the Giant Demon Ape's massive fists shattered their Soul Power shields, delivering a fatal blow.

Fang Chang watched this scene unfold without much thought, as if the deaths of these Soul Masters were no different than seeing stray cats or dogs perish.

Species: Giant Demon Ape (Devourable)

Soul Power: 4900 years

HP: 650/1700

Strength: 550

Attack: 510

Defense: 484

Speed: 400

A month had pass

A month had passed since Fang Chang first encountered this creature. It hadn't improved at all, much to Fang Chang's disappointment.

In fact, its battle with Yan earlier in the day had left it significantly wounded, and the scuffle with the five human Soul Masters had only worsened its condition.

As Fang Chang studied the ape, it turned and spotted him.

Recognizing him instantly, the Giant Demon Ape leaped several meters into the air and charged at Fang Chang.

This was the creature that had stolen its Soul Ascension Fruit while it was fighting the fiery human Soul Master earlier.

Fang Chang remained calm as the ape charged. He activated his fourth racial skill, Blade Armor. His dark-colored exoskeleton and shield-like front legs bristled with blade-like spikes.

Each spike was seven to eight centimeters long, resembling an eagle's talon. They were wide and thick at the base, tapering to a razor-sharp point. Both sides of each spike were edged with blades.

These spikes, shrouded in black mist, were nearly imperceptible from the outside.

With his defenses ready, Fang Chang crossed his shield-like front legs in a defensive X-shape.

The Giant Demon Ape's massive hand, as large as a water barrel, slammed down on Fang Chang's crossed legs.

Clang!

The impact echoed loudly, but Fang Chang stood motionless while the Giant Demon Ape stumbled back several steps, gasping for air.

It glanced at its hand, now bearing deep gashes. Blood streamed down its arm, dripping steadily onto the ground.

Refusing to accept defeat, the ape forced itself upright, bent its legs, and charged again—this time intending to ram straight through Fang Chang's defenses.

Behind his crossed front legs, Fang Chang smirked. His other six legs dug firmly into the ground, ready for a head-on collision.

Boom!

The Giant Demon Ape flew backward like a kite with a broken string, its body soaked in blood.

Fang Chang lowered his front legs, released his defensive stance, and began walking toward the fallen ape.

When he got close, he raised one of his spider legs and stabbed it into the ape's body, injecting it with paralyzing venom.

The Giant Demon Ape struggled at first, but its movements grew weaker and weaker until it went completely limp.

Satisfied, Fang Chang grinned. Opening his jaws, he tore a piece of tender meat from the ape's back.

Even as its consciousness faded, the ape's body twitched violently, unable to resist the effects of the venom.

After devouring that piece of meat, Fang Chang glanced at the ape's thick hind leg and bit into it as well.

In less than half an hour, the once-mighty Giant Demon Ape was reduced to a pile of bones.

Fang Chang belched contentedly, raising his gaze to the cliffs surrounding the valley.

The steep walls were impassable for ordinary humans without tools, but Fang Chang was a spider—perhaps he could give it a try.