After devouring the dragon bones in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Fang Chang quickly left the circular valley and returned to the forest below.
The upgraded Pit Demon Spider had already dug out a cave large enough for several spiders at the designated location. Though the cave currently lacked additional facilities like passageways or storage rooms, it at least provided shelter from wind and rain.
Just then, the smaller spiders returned with their haul - dragging the corpse of a ten-thousand-year Armored Scale Beast.
Before their departure, Fang Chang had instructed them that the rules of the Star Dou Forest didn't fully apply here - they could freely hunt ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
For now, Fang Chang left the spiders to their own devices, settling in a corner of the cave to contemplate future plans.
He opened the system's evolution path panel, where his previous forms connected in a straight line. Below his current "Netherworld Soul-Chasing Spider" form, only two unevolved options remained.
One was the long-coveted "Undead Evil Spider Emperor," while the form above it was called "Bloodwing Demon Spider."
The once-distant Undead Evil Spider Emperor was now within reach, but first he needed to evolve into the Bloodwing Demon Spider.
Evolution Path: Bloodwing Demon Spider
Evolution Requirements:
- Reach 500,000 years of cultivation (Not Met)
- Survive five heavenly tribulations (Not Met)
- Spend 500,000 evolution points (Met)
- Devour 100 flying-type soul beasts or human martial souls (13/100)
Evolution Rewards:
- Significant attribute improvements
- Full status recovery
- Gain flight capability
- Obtain exclusive innate skill "Blood Wings"
The first two conditions were nearly complete. With his current cultivation at about 476,000 years, he wasn't far from the 500,000 requirement. Having survived four heavenly tribulations already, the fifth shouldn't pose much difficulty.
Only the last requirement - devouring 100 flying creatures - remained troublesome. The system showed he'd already consumed thirteen, likely by chance in the past. Now that he needed to hunt them deliberately, it became more challenging.
Just as he pondered this, his gaze fell upon his five offspring. Immediately, they received a new mission - scour the Sunset Forest for flying soul beasts or soul masters with relevant martial souls, then bring them back.
With that solution in place, Fang Chang grew excited about this new form. Currently, he could burrow underground and dive in water, but flight remained impossible.
In human form, he could briefly hover using his vast spiritual power, but in his true spider form, even this basic feat proved impossible. For a near-500,000-year soul beast, this limitation felt particularly frustrating.
Another benefit of this form was the ability to produce flying offspring. Years of research had revealed an interesting pattern - traces of all his previous evolutionary forms remained in his genetic code.
This meant his offspring could randomly manifest any of his prior forms, inheriting their skills and abilities. The current form appeared most frequently, accounting for over 80% of offspring.
Once he evolved into the Bloodwing Demon Spider, many of his descendants would likely share this aerial capability.
As Fang Chang delighted in these prospects, a furious roar suddenly echoed outside, its spiritual pressure so intense it made the spiders in the cave tremble.
At this time and location, only one person could possess such power - Dugu Bo!
Intrigued, Fang Chang activated his "Stealth" skill and emerged from the cave, looking toward the distant valley.
Above the circular valley, an elderly man hovered midair, his face flushed with rage and despair. In just half a day's absence, his painstakingly restored herb garden had been destroyed again.
The medicinal plants lay withered from poison, and the mystical spring had lost its properties, becoming nearly ordinary. These herbs held the key to curing the toxins afflicting both Dugu Bo and his beloved granddaughter. With them gone, his hopes of recovery vanished.
How could he not rage?
The angrier Dugu Bo grew, the more he unleashed his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor martial soul, attacking the surrounding area indiscriminately to vent his fury.
As a Title Douluo and poison master, his attacks immediately took their toll. Birds and beasts cried out as they fled in all directions, while many fell victim to the assault.
Fortunately, Fang Chang's cave lay outside the attack range. Watching Dugu Bo's tantrum from a safe distance, Fang Chang chuckled inwardly.
Serves you right for befriending Tang San despite your age and poisonous nature.
As Dugu Bo's attacks gradually subsided, Fang Chang stealthily approached. Any friend of Tang San was his enemy - he'd never planned to spare this old poisoner, and now the man had delivered himself right to his doorstep.
Exhausted, Dugu Bo leaned against an old tree at the valley's edge, panting heavily.
The surrounding hundreds of meters had turned an eerie green, emitting pungent odors. Withered vegetation and countless soul beast corpses littered the poisoned landscape.
Yet Dugu Bo's fury remained unabated. Clenching his fists, he swore to find the culprit and tear them apart piece by piece to feed his venomous snakes.
Just then, a young man's figure materialized silently three or four meters behind him - completely undetected by the Title Douluo.
Only when Fang Chang took several more steps did Dugu Bo finally hear the footsteps and whirl around, stumbling back in shock.
"You... who are you?" Dugu Bo demanded, his face twisting with suspicion. His instincts warned him this man might surpass him in strength.
"Me?" Fang Chang's expression turned arrogant as he pointed at the ruined herb garden. "I'm the one who destroyed your precious plants."
Veins bulged on Dugu Bo's aged face as he listened, his fists clenching tighter still. He wanted to threaten the stranger but restrained himself upon sensing the other's power, merely glaring while his chest heaved with emotion.
"Oh, and by the way," Fang Chang continued advancing, "remember when your garden was destroyed a few years back? That was me too."
"You! We've never had any enmity between us! Why target me like this?" Dugu Bo's voice trembled with indignation.
"No reason. Just for fun."
Done with conversation, Fang Chang raised his right hand. A several-meter-long fire dragon shot from his sleeve straight at Dugu Bo.
What better way to test his newly acquired ice and fire control than on this unfortunate old poisoner?