"Damn it! If it weren't for those brats from that Shrek Academy or whatever, we wouldn't be suffering like this." The plump fourth member of the Spirit Hall team grumbled as he punched the injured rabbit-like soul beast they had surrounded.
They had spent three whole days and nights in the Star Dou Forest, scouring for a suitable soul beast for their youngest member. They had finally found one: the Soft Bone Rabbit that Fang Chang devoured. Unfortunately, their plans were thwarted when they ran into Tang San. A chaotic scuffle later, their efforts were for nothing, as Fang Chang snatched the rabbit.
Since then, they had searched for several more days without finding a suitable substitute. Either the soul beasts were too weak, or their attributes weren't compatible. Eventually, they had no choice but to settle for the Long-Eared Rabbit, a mere 800-year soul beast.
The repeated frustrations and lackluster outcome left the fourth member fuming. He spat angrily, "We're the Spirit Hall! The strongest faction on the entire Douluo Continent! Even if we're just a branch hall, it's always us bullying others, not the other way around!"
"Enough, Old Four," snapped the lean third member, who looked unimpressed. "You've been whining for days. Little Sis hasn't complained, so why are you so noisy?"
He added mockingly, "And back then, I didn't see you doing anything impressive. You couldn't even handle the weakest kid in their group."
Old Four's face turned red as he fumbled for a response. "I-It's also that damn Man-Faced Demon Spider's fault! It stole our soul beast when we weren't looking!"
Hearing this, the usually quiet young woman spoke up, "Do you think it's dead by now?"
"It's dead," the eldest of the group, Bai Yu, said confidently. "You saw how high that cliff was. The spider doesn't have wings—it couldn't have survived the fall."
The young woman sighed. The Man-Faced Demon Spider had been a strong creature. If they could've used it as a soul ring, it would've been far better than the Long-Eared Rabbit they had now. It would've made up for her stolen soul beast and cooled her anger.
But now, all they had was this weak Long-Eared Rabbit.
The four Spirit Hall members were too preoccupied with their conversation to notice the black figure creeping silently toward them, sticking close to the ground.
"Let's finish this up, Little Sis," Bai Yu said, glancing at the weakened rabbit in the center of their encirclement. "It's nearly at its limit. End it quickly."
The young woman nodded. Her Snow Rabbit spirit possessed her, surrounding her with a faint frosty aura. She jumped gracefully into the air, her long legs glowing with icy energy as she aimed a powerful kick at the trembling rabbit.
Just before the strike landed, a black figure flashed past.
Her foot collided with what felt like solid iron. Wincing in pain, she instinctively withdrew, landing awkwardly.
The other three turned sharply toward the scene.
A Man-Faced Demon Spider, nearly two meters long and covered in armor-like plating, had suddenly leapt out of nearby bushes. It bypassed their formation, sank its fangs into the Long-Eared Rabbit, and jumped away with its prey.
"What the...?" Bai Yu shouted, stunned.
The spider hovered in the air briefly before landing over ten meters away.
It was Fang Chang. The elegant leap was thanks to his new Leap skill.
"What are you standing there for? Go after it!" Bai Yu roared, charging forward.
The other three, still reeling from the sudden appearance of the spider, scrambled to follow him.
As the Spirit Hall team gave chase, Fang Chang used Leap to navigate obstacles with ease.
The terrain worked in Fang Chang's favor. He had scouted the area earlier and chosen a carefully planned escape route. When the Spirit Hall members tried to follow, they were quickly stalled by a massive boulder over three meters tall, blocking their path.
They cursed under their breath as they were forced to detour around it, widening the gap between them and their target.
By the time they reached the other side, Fang Chang had already leapt over a large pond, landing in the dense forest on the far side. His figure disappeared into the shadows.
"Damn it!" Bai Yu cursed, glaring after the spider's retreating silhouette.
Panting, the young woman hesitated, then asked, "Big Brother... was that the same Man-Faced Demon Spider that stole our Soft Bone Rabbit?"
Her words sent a jolt through the group.
The spider's appearance, its distinctive armored plating—it had to be the same one. But how was it still alive?
Realizing they had been fooled not once, but twice, the Spirit Hall team's frustration boiled over.
Meanwhile, Fang Chang skittered further into the forest, his prize securely in his fangs.
"An easy 800 years of soul power! How could I say no?"
He chuckled inwardly. While his strength had grown significantly, he saw no point in risking a fight with the Spirit Hall group. They might have hidden trump cards, and any unnecessary battle could cost him dearly.
"If I can escape, I'll always choose to escape. Fight smart, not hard!"
Satisfied with his clever getaway, Fang Chang vanished deeper into the forest, leaving the unlucky quartet to stew in their defeat.