Ma Xiaotao's eyes burned red with fury.
She was livid. Victory had been within her grasp, yet she had let it slip away.
Never had she expected the Man-Faced Demon Spider to be not only cunning but also capable of invoking the rare Spider God's Possession.
While in that state, even at full strength, Ma Xiaotao found it difficult to confront the beast head-on. That was how it had managed to exploit the one flaw in her defenses.
Her own negligence had cost her. She had gotten too carried away in battle, failing to notice the spider's true intent until it was too late.
She should have seen it coming.
The Man-Faced Demon Spider had launched its first attack directly at Wang Dong.
Wang Dong's martial soul, the Light Goddess Butterfly, was of exceptionally high quality—on par with her teacher's Light Phoenix martial soul. Its radiant light energy was a natural bane to evil soul beasts like the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
However, Wang Dong was only at Rank 22. The gap between her and a 20,000-year-old soul beast going all out was simply insurmountable.
Moreover, this was a battle of a cornered beast.
Even a desperate dog would leap over a wall—how much more so a highly intelligent and ruthless 10,000-year-old soul beast?
One must never pursue a cornered enemy, let alone one so wicked and cunning.
Despite her frustration and anger, Ma Xiaotao did not lose her composure.
The spider web binding skill was incredibly sticky and durable. Even a 20,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider could only produce a limited number in a day.
Even powerful soul masters caught in it would need time to break free.
Unlike before, when she had been able to destroy the spider web with an instant Phoenix Roar Air Strike, this time was different.
Now, the spider was in its Spider God Possession state, and its web was imbued with a sinister gray glow. Its durability had reached an entirely new level—nearly a qualitative transformation.
Even with her most powerful ten-thousand-year soul skill, breaking through instantly was proving difficult.
Furthermore, the short distance between them meant that she had no way to intercept the web in time.
Her only option was to take down the spider as quickly as possible!
Fortunately, compared to the lethal poison on the spider's spear-like legs, the neurotoxin on its webbing was significantly weaker. As long as she broke free in time, it wouldn't be fatal.
If she could defeat the spider swiftly, she could still save Wang Dong.
"Hold on, Wang Dong! I'll be there soon!" she shouted, her thoughts racing as her soul rings flared to life.
Golden-red flames surged, engulfing the Man-Faced Demon Spider once more.
…
There was no escape.
Suspended in midair, Wang Dong had stopped releasing the Light of the Butterfly Goddess.
Faced with the all-encompassing spider web, she had no options left.
Use the Clear Sky Hammer?
She was airborne, unable to generate the necessary force. Even if she used her sect's secret techniques, what difference would it make?
Use hidden weapons?
She remembered the treasure bag Senior Sister Xiaoya had given her, filled with an arsenal of concealed weapons—throwing knives, needles, bone-piercing nails, each in the hundreds.
Over the past month, her progress in Tang Sect techniques had been rapid, and she had started training with hidden weapons.
She had already mastered two or three techniques—enough to threaten ordinary freshmen with one or two soul rings.
But against this? They were useless.
Tang Sect techniques wouldn't help.
Even Clear Sky Clan's secret skills wouldn't save her. She was too weak. Without soul rings on her Clear Sky Hammer, she was like a chef without ingredients.
Where was Elder Xuan Zi? Why hadn't he come?
Hadn't Ma Xiaotao said that the Super Douluo was also in the Star Dou Forest?
The distress signal had been sent for so long.
Why was no one coming?
If only Yuhao were here.
If the two of them worked together, using their martial soul fusion technique, they could break through the spider web.
They might even be able to help Ma Xiaotao fight.
Wang Dong chuckled bitterly at her own thoughts.
What was she even thinking?
Hadn't she come here precisely to find Yuhao? Yet now, she was the one in danger, hoping for his help.
She had meant to assist him, yet she was only proving to be a burden.
She had overestimated herself. That so-called connection between them—was it even real? It had never been tested in battle.
Besides...
In this situation, it was better if Yuhao didn't come.
Even if he was the top freshman, even if he had defeated Xu Sanshi, he was still just a Soul Grandmaster.
This battle was far too dangerous.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Dong curled herself up to minimize her exposure to the attack.
Then—A shiver ran through her body.
The surrounding temperature plummeted.
Cold. Freezing cold.
Just like when the school term had begun—a familiar chill.
Someone was coming.
It was Yuhao!
In that instant, Wang Dong witnessed the terrifying power of absolute frost.
As deep blue light spread outward, the bone-chilling cold bypassed Wang Dong, solidifying the air itself. Everything froze.
The surrounding trees instantly crystallized into ice sculptures. The entire world turned white—a domain of ice and snow.
The spider web that had threatened her? Frozen solid and rendered powerless, it crumbled from the sky.
"Are you alright?" a familiar voice asked.
In midair, Huo Yuhao appeared as if he had traversed thousands of mountains in a single step.
This was a subtle application of spatial control.
Huo Yuhao couldn't fly yet—not without the Gu worm's assistance.
But with his Spirit Eye martial soul and mastery over space, he could walk on air as if it were solid ground.
The Northern Dark Ice Soul Domain receded, but the frozen landscape remained unchanged for hundreds of meters, refusing to thaw.
"You're here, Yuhao."
"I wasn't too late, was I?"
"No..." Staring at his familiar figure, Wang Dong's eyes misted over.
In his spiritual sea, Skydream's excited voice rang out: "Good job, Yuhao! You made it just in time."
The Ice Empress reminded him, "Aren't you going to help your senior sister? That Man-Faced Demon Spider is quite powerful."
Skydream eagerly chimed in, "Yeah, Yuhao! Here's your chance to be a hero and save the damsel in distress! We're rooting for you!"
Even Wang Dong, still clinging to him, spoke up: "Yuhao, let's use the martial soul fusion technique! We can help Sister Xiaotao."
"Martial soul fusion technique? Now, here?" Huo Yuhao shook his head. "No need."
He was certain now. Everything had been orchestrated by the Sea God.
…
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