Fang Chang glanced at Tang Lin'er, who was still in shock, and couldn't help but have some new, mischievous ideas. Originally, he had only intended to coax her into keeping quiet about his presence here.
But somehow, this little girl had ended up receiving so many benefits from him that even he felt envious.
Now, there was no way to take those things back, but he definitely wasn't going to give them away for free. At the very least, he had to make good use of her.
Fang Chang thought carefully, and soon, a grand plan began to take shape in his mind—one in which Tang Lin'er was a crucial piece.
"Do you desire power?"
Suddenly, Fang Chang's voice echoed in Tang Lin'er's mind.
She blinked her big eyes, looking at him with curiosity. After a moment, she nodded, half-understanding.
"Then, are you willing to believe in the Spider?"
The voice sounded again, and this time, Tang Lin'er's response was much more enthusiastic.
"Yes! I'm willing!" She was as excited as a cat rolling in catnip. "My dream is to become the greatest Spider Soul Master in the world!"
...Huh?
Now it was Fang Chang's turn to be dumbfounded.
He had originally prepared an elaborate speech to brainwash her, but who would've thought this little girl would be so cooperative?
After a brief moment of speechlessness, Fang Chang quickly adjusted.
"Alright then, from today onward, you are the Holy Maiden of the Spider God Church. Your duty is to spread the name of the Spider God Church to the outside world."
"Spider God Church?" Tang Lin'er blinked, thinking for a long time before asking in confusion, "What's that?"
"A very powerful organization," Fang Chang replied lazily. "And your first task is to bring all of your academy classmates here tonight."
Based on the Soul Master Academy system in the Douluo world, kids her age should still be in a primary-level Soul Master Academy. That meant her classmates were probably also young children like her.
"Oh..." Tang Lin'er nodded and firmly memorized the task Fang Chang had given her.
After that, Fang Chang even gave her the External Soul Bone he had obtained from the Four-Eyed Golden Horned Serpent.
Once she finished absorbing both pieces of soul bone under his watchful eye, he finally let her leave.
As for whether she would be targeted by others because of these treasures, that was none of his concern.
In fact, if someone killed Tang Lin'er just to take them from her, it would actually work in favor of his plan.
Waiting was always the hardest part—especially when you had an elaborate plan ready to unfold but had no choice but to hide in the shadows.
Finally, night fell, and darkness once again blanketed the land.
As expected, Tang Lin'er arrived at the rundown house, bringing seventeen or eighteen young Soul Masters around her age.
Originally, they hadn't wanted to come. But after witnessing Tang Lin'er's soul power jump from level 10 to level 20 in just one day, they couldn't suppress their curiosity.
"Teacher? Teacher, are you here?"
Standing at the entrance, Tang Lin'er pushed open the door and called into the house.
In the cover of night, Fang Chang's Stealth was flawless—there was no way they could detect him.
"Bring them in."
Hearing Fang Chang's voice in her mind, Tang Lin'er happily led the group inside.
Perhaps because there were more people this time, or perhaps because they were envious of Tang Lin'er's rapid power boost, even Huzi and the tall girl, who had been here earlier that morning, were much bolder this time and followed the group in.
Once everyone was inside, Fang Chang's voice resonated in their minds.
"Do you desire power?"
The group of kids looked at each other, hesitant at first.
But then, remembering Tang Lin'er's astonishing power surge, they nodded in unison.
"Then, are you willing to believe in the Spider?"
...Believe in the Spider?
Why would we do that?
Wait, what does believe even mean?
At ten years old, none of them truly understood such a concept.
But a few of them, driven by their admiration for Tang Lin'er, still nodded.
A few youthful voices rang out in the room.
"I'm willing."
"Me too!"
Once a few took the lead, the rest didn't want to be left behind.
Hidden in the shadows, Fang Chang nearly burst out laughing.
"Since you have chosen to believe in the Spider, you shall receive the Spider God's blessings."
A single spider silk dropped from the ceiling, lowering a ring in front of them.
"Now, place your hands on the ring and inject your soul power into it."
Some of the bolder kids hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward. One of them was the first to grab the ring, pouring in his soul power.
Suddenly, a flash of light erupted, and an ancient book shot out from the ring, landing in his hands.
The others stared in awe.
Immediately, they scrambled forward, each fighting to touch the ring, even if they had already received a reward.
"Only one per person! Line up!"
Fang Chang's voice rang in their minds, finally bringing some order. Still, their excited chatter gave him a headache.
The ring's treasures were quite decent—some got low-level Soul Tools, others received ancient manuals, and some even got beast-skin scrolls.
It was like a lottery draw.
Thankfully, no one was as lucky as Tang Lin'er, who had won a soul bone. Otherwise, Fang Chang might have lost his mind.
Once every child had received a reward, Fang Chang instructed them to sit down.
Then, he began telling them the "history" of the Spider God Church—a story he had spent all day fabricating.
According to him, the Spider God was the greatest deity in the world, and he was the Spider God's emissary.
Just how powerful was the Spider God?
Even a million Title Douluos together wouldn't be able to defeat him!
"Hmph!" The children scoffed, clearly unconvinced.
But Fang Chang continued his story unfazed.
He told them the Spider God had a special glove—and with just a snap of his fingers, half the world would turn to dust—even Title Douluos wouldn't be spared.
He said the Spider God had a mystical lamp, and whoever found it could make three wishes, no matter what they desired.
He also claimed the Spider God had a legendary staff, one that could change size at will, was as heavy as 13,500 jin, and was once lent to a monkey who wreaked havoc in the Divine Realm.
His tales grew wilder and wilder.
He even made up multiple versions of human origin stories—one where the Spider God carved the first man from wood and made the first woman from his rib; another where a small goddess named Nuwa sculpted humans from clay; and yet another where the world was once chaos, and the Spider God split it apart with his legs, creating the sky, the earth, and humanity.
By the end, the children were completely mesmerized.
Unlike the Douluo world's usual soul master battle legends, these divine tales were something entirely new.
Compared to the stories of Title Douluos, the Spider God's feats were on a completely different level.
Unknowingly, these kids truly began to believe in the Spider God—and even felt a deep reverence for him.
This was exactly why Fang Chang had chosen children—they were easier to deceive and more willing to believe in the supernatural.
Once the kids left, none of them had even seen Fang Chang's true face.
And as for Fang Chang himself, he didn't dare linger in the city any longer.
Under the cover of night, he activated Stealth and silently left Baishui City—heading towards the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.