As Yuan Jue's tone softened, Feng Fei's mood grew increasingly heavy, as if he could already see the miserable world ravaged by the Soul-Devouring Spiders in the future, a world that was probably no more terrifying than the eighteen levels of hell that mortals feared.
"I've observed these Soul-Devouring Spiders. Most of them are in the last six levels of cultivation, and even your cultivation level, Feng Fei, is firmly above theirs. However, this doesn't mean we can easily defeat them. If we're not careful, we could very well be devoured. Among the tens of thousands of Soul-Devouring Spiders, there's a very small chance of one becoming intelligent. This kind of Soul-Devouring Spider is usually the leader of the other ordinary ones. Judging from their attack patterns, I suspect there must be a leader Soul-Devouring Spider lurking nearby. Therefore, in the upcoming battle, we must pay close attention to our surroundings. This kind of fighting while constantly being aware of our surroundings will definitely be extremely dangerous, so everyone must be careful."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and in that instant, the Soul-Devouring Spider closest to Feng Fei suddenly pounced on him. Without thinking, Feng Fei drew his Serpent Bone Whip and lashed out, instantly knocking the Soul-Devouring Spider to the ground.
The Serpent Bone Whip was extremely powerful. Even Yuan Jue couldn't withstand Feng Fei's whip, but the Soul-Devouring Spider only twitched a few times on the ground before getting back up and rejoining the attack. However, the Serpent Bone Whip did inflict great damage on the Soul-Devouring Spider, which only advanced a short distance with the other Soul-Devouring Spiders before collapsing to the ground and dying.
Seeing that the snake bone whip was effective, Feng Fei breathed a sigh of relief. But before he could fully exhale, his gaze fell upon the other Soul-Devouring Spiders that had passed by the dead spider, all of them turning and charging towards it. To Feng Fei's astonishment, he clearly saw how the dead spider was devoured completely by its own companions.
A wave of nausea welled up in her chest. Feng Fei suppressed the discomfort and swung her snake-bone whip, knocking away the Soul-Devouring Spiders that approached them. However, she unconsciously loosened her grip. At this moment, Feng Fei inexplicably showed sympathy. She felt sorry for the Soul-Devouring Spiders being harmed and devoured by their companions, so in a moment of confusion, she spared the lives of those she had attacked.
The leader of the Soul-Devouring Spiders, lurking in the darkness, seemed to sense the abnormality on Feng Fei's side, emitting a sharp scream that was inaudible to humans. The Soul-Devouring Spiders surrounding Feng Fei and his group of six changed formation, shifting all their forces towards Feng Fei's side.
Yuan Jue's expression grew increasingly grim. He hadn't expected Feng Fei to make such a blunder at this moment. The pressure on their side increased dramatically, but Feng Fei remained completely oblivious.
"Jin Ming, clean up your side first, then come help us." Yuan Jue transmitted his voice to Jin Ming, hoping to resolve the current situation as soon as possible, the only way was to break through from another direction.
Jin Ming and Yuan Jue's twenty years of tacit understanding were genuine. Upon hearing Yuan Jue's words, they immediately instructed Da Bao and Xiao Bao to intensify their attack on the Soul-Devouring Spiders surrounding them. Da Bao and Xiao Bao had heard of Soul-Devouring Spiders in their sect, often told to them by their unruly teachers as ghost stories. Indeed, the two of them harbored immense fear and hatred towards these spiders, so without Jin Ming's prompting, they unconsciously increased their attack.
As the number of Soul-Devouring Spiders surrounding Jin Ming and Da Bao dwindled, Feng Fei suddenly noticed a Soul-Devouring Spider with fewer wounds than the ordinary ones. Its glossy black back had two white rings, and it slowly approached Jin Ming from behind. Even more strangely, its eight legs weren't covered in black downy hairs, but rather in chilling red, teardrop-shaped hairs. As soon as this unusual creature appeared, Feng Fei saw the other ordinary Soul-Devouring Spiders around it retreat. And its advance was aimed directly at Jin Ming's back.
"Jin Ming!"
Feng Fei shouted anxiously, his snake-bone whip moving with the sound. Before he finished speaking, the whip, carrying a powerful gust of wind, struck the back of the leader, the Soul-Devouring Spider, leaving a stark white mark. The leader, the Soul-Devouring Spider, seemed not to have expected anyone to see through its movements, or perhaps it was injured by Feng Fei's ruthless whip strike; it stood frozen in place.
When Feng Fei called out to him, Jin Ming subconsciously turned around and saw the Soul-Devouring Spider that was extremely close to him. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Jin Ming only had time to thank Feng Fei before hurriedly collecting the Soul-Devouring Spiders, his methods far more swift and ruthless than before. He had no choice; that Soul-Devouring Spider had dared to provoke him. Today, he was determined to dig up its ancestors and descendants and whip their corpses. Jin Ming thought sinisterly, his hands remaining still while his attention gradually spread to observe his surroundings.
Seeing that his attack had worked, Feng Fei breathed a sigh of relief.
But before she could finish exhaling, Yuan Jue suddenly pulled her body behind him. Feng Fei's eyes blurred, and she only saw a Soul-Devouring Spider swarming onto Yuan Jue's body. The disgusting tongue that Yuan Jue had emphasized to be careful of was wrapped around Yuan Jue's arm.
It was in that one glance that Feng Fei suddenly realized that his previous willfulness and negligence had led Yuan Jue into this predicament. As he thought about it, a surge of karmic anger rose from Feng Fei's abdomen. This karmic anger burned within Feng Fei himself; he was angry at his own lack of self-control and his misuse of kindness; he was angry at his own lack of focus in dangerous situations, which had harmed himself and others.
Suddenly, two blazing flames erupted in Feng Fei's eyes. At that moment, the jade-gold spiritual power within Feng Fei's body was completely transformed into golden fire-attribute spiritual power. As the spiritual power within Feng Fei's body changed, not only Yuan Jue, who was closest to him, but also Da Bao and Xiao Bao, who were a little further away, sensed the change in Feng Fei.
If Feng Fei was previously just a gentle and harmless ordinary beauty, then at this moment she was an arrogant, noble, and haughty emperor, her anger rising to its peak. The torrent of rage intensified with the circulation of spiritual energy within her body. Yuan Jue felt as if the hand holding Feng Fei was about to be burned away, but he refused to let go and could only circulate his spiritual energy to resist.
As Feng Fei's demeanor completely changed, she forcibly pulled Yuan Jue to her side, pressing her jade-like hand, burning with intense rage, against the tongue that was wrapped around Yuan Jue's arm. The moment the scorching aura from Feng Fei's palm touched the tongue, the Soul-Devouring Spider emitted a burnt smell. The tongue that first came into contact with it instantly turned to ash.
Suddenly, Feng Fei's body went limp, and Yuan Jue was caught off guard and became flustered, but he still managed to hold Feng Fei tightly in his arms while resisting the attack of the Soul-Devouring Spider.
Yuan Jue maintained the same speed and movement in his attacks, but asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
Feng Fei didn't know what had just happened, but his intuition told him it wasn't a bad thing; he was just a little exhausted. Hearing this, he shook his head to indicate that he was fine.
Mingfeng approached Fengfei and Yuanjue with concern and anxiety, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that they were both alright.
The number of Soul-Devouring Spiders around them was decreasing at an extremely slow pace, casting a shadow over Yuan Jue and the others. They hadn't expected these Soul-Devouring Spiders to be so powerful when under the guidance of a leader.
"Aren't these Soul-Eating Spiders afraid of fire?"
Holding Yuan Jue in his arms, Feng Fei looked at the increasingly unfavorable situation they were in and, recalling what had just happened to him, couldn't help but ask a question.
Chapter 54 Weaknesses
Whew~ It feels so good to write 10,000 words in one afternoon while competing with others! For all this hard work, I'm begging for recommendations, favorites, and clicks!
————————I am a gorgeous dividing line——————————
Feng Fei's words caused Yuan Jue to pause for a moment. Fortunately, Yuan Jue reacted quickly and managed to block the Soul-Devouring Spider that was attacking from that opening.
"Fire shouldn't be a weakness of the Soul-Eating Spider, right? If it could be, there would definitely be records of it, instead of just some descriptions of the Soul-Eating Spider's terrifying habits."
"Then how do you explain what just happened?"
Yuan Jue remained silent. Despite the facts before him, he still didn't believe that fire alone could destroy these Soul-Devouring Spiders. Suddenly, Yuan Jue recalled what had happened to Feng Fei at the site of the meteorite that had fallen from the sky on the outskirts of Mochou City.
"Perhaps it's because your spiritual power is different. Do you remember that it was Xue Tuan and Ming Feng who together guided the power of water and fire to suppress the chaotic spiritual power in your body? Your spiritual power is no longer just fire attribute spiritual power. As for what changes will occur after the fusion of water and fire, none of us except you know."
As soon as Yuan Jue finished speaking, Ming Feng's hesitant voice followed: "Perhaps... I know..."
Mingfeng's words immediately delighted everyone, and Jinming hurriedly said, "Then tell us!"
Mingfeng stammered but didn't say anything, her hands continuing to move while her mind raced, trying to find the right words. Just as Yuan Jue's patience was wearing thin, she finally spoke, "Although... I can't explain it clearly... I know the general method..."
Mingfeng spoke slowly, seemingly considering the feasibility of her method. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "My spiritual power only became the kind suitable for Sister Feifei after being fused with Xue Tuan's spiritual power. So, if we find a water-attribute spiritual power of similar quality to Xue Tuan's and combine it with my spiritual power, we should be able to produce that special kind of spiritual power. However, Sister Feifei has just exhausted her spiritual power because of… Da Bao and I are both fire-attribute, and Jin Ming, you are wood and metal-attribute. Yuan Jue's spiritual power is also yin, but it shouldn't be water-attribute."
Mingfeng's words silenced everyone again. The frustration of having a solution but being powerless to implement it lingered in their hearts, making them feel extremely uncomfortable, and their actions became even more ruthless.
Time passed slowly, and Feng Fei gradually recovered some of his spiritual power. Wielding his snake-bone whip, he and Yuan Jue Mingfeng fought off the Soul-Devouring Spiders. However, these Soul-Devouring Spiders seemed endless; they didn't know how many they had killed. For every Soul-Devouring Spider that died, another would immediately devour it, leaving no trace.
Suddenly, Yuan Jue's brow furrowed, and he asked Jin Ming in a very unpleasant tone, "Have you noticed that these Soul-Devouring Spiders have become stronger?"
Yuan Jue's question resonated in everyone's minds. No wonder they felt increasingly strained as the fight progressed; they had assumed it was due to the depletion of their spiritual energy and mental strength.
Despite his usual carefree and jovial demeanor, Jin Ming is capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities when it comes to crucial matters. After noticing Yuan Jue's problem, Jin Ming began to consciously observe the Soul-Devouring Spiders. Sure enough, he discovered that these spiders would slowly regain their original strength for a period after devouring a dead one. Moreover, he was pleasantly surprised to find that these spiders experienced a period of weakness after consuming the dead ones. They would slowly retreat into the swarm to digest. Furthermore, those Soul-Devouring Spiders that hadn't yet fed would automatically step forward to act as vanguards, drawing away the remaining forces.
Jin Ming couldn't contain his excitement at this discovery. "Yuan Jue, these Soul-Devouring Spiders go through a period of weakness after devouring other spiders, while the Soul-Devouring Spiders that haven't eaten will take their place. I think this is all the work of the leader Soul-Devouring Spider hiding behind the scenes. However, the behavior of devouring dead Soul-Devouring Spiders should be the nature of the Soul-Devouring Spiders and cannot be driven by the leader Soul-Devouring Spider. We can keep attacking the Soul-Devouring Spiders that have just eaten, and by using this cycle, we will definitely be able to kill all of these Soul-Devouring Spiders."
Jin Ming's suggestion was very tempting, and Yuan Jue couldn't help but observe the habits of the Soul-Devouring Spiders as well, and they were indeed as Jin Ming had said. However, he did not immediately order everyone to attack the Soul-Devouring Spiders after they had finished eating, but instead frowned as if he was thinking about something.
After a while, Yuan Jue relaxed his brows and first asked Feng Fei beside him in a soft voice, "How is the spiritual energy in your body recovering?"
Feng Fei continued her attacks, but after hearing Yuan Jue's words, she also checked her own condition. "Not very good."
Yuan Jue nodded, then handed the water pouch made of celestial crystal to Feng Fei: "Drink this to replenish your spiritual power. We'll have to rely on you from now on." After Feng Fei took the water pouch made of celestial crystal, Yuan Jue asked Jin Ming: "I remember you have something that can be burned for a long time but is extremely difficult to burn? It seems that even Ming Feng's original essence fire can't burn it. Hurry up and scoop it out."
"Yuan Jue! You're exploiting me again!"
Despite shouting and yelling, Jin Ming didn't hesitate to throw the thing Yuan Jue had mentioned to Yuan Jue.
"Hey, I've given it to you, so you have to treat it well!" Jin Ming said slickly before continuing to lecture the Soul-Eating Spider in front of him.
Jin Ming tossed Yuan Jue a glittering lump of metal, which looked more like gold used for trade among mortals. However, judging from the way Yuan Jue scooped it up, this seemingly golden object was no ordinary thing. Yuan Jue held it in his hand, and his spiritual energy slowly seeped into the object, stretching it from the inside out until it was finally drawn into a thin thread four or five meters long.
After completing these steps, Yuanjue instructed Mingfeng to intensify her attacks on the Soul-Devouring Spider, while he temporarily withdrew from the attack circle. He then used the stretched-out thread to encircle the six of them, before taking out a black porcelain bottle, gently shaking it for a moment, and dripping the liquid inside onto the thread. With just one drop, the thread instantly spread the unknown liquid to every part of it.
After all this was done, Yuan Jue had a relaxed smile on his face.
Of course, these arrangements are not enough to kill all the Soul-Devouring Spiders; a key figure is still needed—Feng Fei.
After drinking the medicine from the Heavenly Crystal Stone Water Pouch, Feng Fei's spiritual power was rapidly recovering. The snake bone whip in her hand never stopped wielding, and with the support of the medicine, her combat power soared dramatically.
"Phoenix Flying!"
Yuan Jue's clear voice rang in Feng Fei's ears. Before Feng Fei could react, Yuan Jue pulled her back. At the same time, Ming Feng stepped forward and stood at the forefront of the battle against the Soul-Devouring Spider.
"Feng Fei, try your best to regain that feeling of pure fire-attribute spiritual power, and then use that spiritual power to ignite this thin thread."
Feng Fei nodded, then closed his eyes and tried hard to recall his feelings at that time.
However, Yuan Jue was entangled by the Soul-Devouring Spider while trying to save her. She felt guilty for her carelessness and recklessness. Seeing the arrogant Soul-Devouring Spider on Yuan Jue's arm, she felt her anger rising uncontrollably.
Feng Fei felt that the Soul-Devouring Spider was challenging her authority. She was an emperor, possessing only the power of life and death; how could she tolerate a lowly life daring to act arrogantly before her? This thought churned in Feng Fei's mind, and for a moment, she truly believed herself to be a supreme ruler, an unparalleled hero who commanded the submission of all under heaven. The rage ignited by the provocation and contempt of an ant burned fiercely, wishing it could incinerate her very being. She needed an outlet.
Feng Fei suddenly opened her eyes, and two blazing flames surged in her pupils once more. However, unlike before when she had temporarily lost consciousness, Feng Fei was perfectly lucid this time, and she knew exactly what she was going to do the moment she opened her eyes.
"Bang!"
A small, golden flame flickered in Feng Fei's palm. This flame appeared fragile, but it was not to be underestimated; if it touched one's body, even the Yuan Jue realm would suffer greatly. As the small golden flame appeared, Feng Fei's face paled, and his spiritual energy stagnated—a sign that it was about to be exhausted. Feng Fei quickly drank a mouthful of medicinal liquid to replenish his spiritual energy. When the small flame had risen about three inches, Feng Fei swiftly pressed it against the thin thread binding them.
The thin thread ignited instantly, like gasoline that had caught a spark.
Although the Phoenix's special spiritual fire could be kept burning thanks to the indestructible toughness of the fine thread, it was still indispensable for the special liquid that Yuan Jue had dripped onto the fine thread earlier.
The raging flames forced the Soul-Devouring Spider back three zhang away, and Feng Fei and his group of six were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
“If this is all we have, we won’t be able to escape. Although we’ve managed to repel the Soul-Devouring Spiders with Feng Fei’s spiritual fire, without Feng Fei’s special spiritual power, we can only maintain the flames. If this continues, we’ll still be trapped. Let’s rest for a bit, and then we’ll follow Jin Ming’s earlier discovery to defeat them.” Yuan Jue sat down first. This action had greatly depleted his spiritual power. If he didn’t recover it soon, even if they found a way to deal with it, it would be extremely difficult for them to leave safely.
Feng Fei and his group of five naturally agreed with Yuan Jue's words. Now that their safety was somewhat guaranteed, they couldn't help but relax a little. They immediately sat down on the ground to regulate their breathing.
The Soul-Devouring Spiders were naturally unwilling to let their prey slip away. The leader of the Soul-Devouring Spiders recalled some of the elite ones, but a large number of them still guarded Feng Fei and his companions. After a while, the leader of the Soul-Devouring Spiders actually appeared before Feng Fei and his companions with a group of elite Soul-Devouring Spiders.
"Sizzle—"
The leader of the Soul-Devouring Spiders let out a sharp cry, and the Soul-Devouring Spiders closest to the outer ring of fire around Feng Fei and his group immediately pounced on them without regard for their lives.
The sheer scale of their heroic sacrifice left Feng Fei and his companions stunned for a long time.
Meanwhile, Feng Fei and his six companions had rested for a while. Seeing the Soul-Devouring Spiders attacking, they launched a new round of fighting.
In this battle, where both sides appear to be evenly matched, who will emerge victorious? Clearly, both the Soul-Devouring Spider Commander and Feng Fei's six companions possess extensive information about their respective factions. (To be continued...)
☆, Chapter 55 Annihilation of the Apocalypse (Second Update)
The editor said there would be extra chapters~ Even the old eunuch wants to continue the story~ So I'm here obediently too~~ Mwah~
——————————I am a gorgeous dividing line————————————
The first Soul-Eating Spiders to pounce were clearly cannon fodder, and the leader of the Soul-Eating Spiders didn't care at all, while the elite Soul-Eating Spiders were neatly lined up behind the leader.
The Soul-Devouring Spiders' reaction is likely related to their previous consumption of various souls. In Fengye City, there are a vast number of soldier souls. Although not all soldier souls can become military spirits, the military discipline and other qualities deeply ingrained in them are qualities that ordinary civilian souls cannot possess. It is precisely because of this that these Soul-Devouring Spiders can exhibit a similar sense of military discipline.
When the phrase "strict military discipline" crossed Feng Fei's mind, she couldn't help but find it laughable. The Soul-Devouring Spider was nothing more than a beast that had devoured human souls; how could it be worthy of such serious terms as "strict military discipline"?
Feng Fei shook his head, banishing all these far-fetched thoughts from his mind.
At this moment, due to the relentless onslaught of the cannon fodder Soul-Devouring Spiders, the special spiritual energy flames burning in the thin circle surrounding Feng Fei and his group began to flicker. Taking advantage of this moment, the Soul-Devouring Spider leader led his elite Soul-Devouring Spiders in a charge, attempting to break through Feng Fei and his companions' protective circle.
The swarms of Soul-Devouring Spiders sent chills down Feng Fei's spine.
"Everyone, get ready! Intensify your attack on the front-line Soul-Devouring Spiders and kill them as quickly as possible. Then, focus your attacks on the Soul-Devouring Spiders that have already been devoured." Seeing the Soul-Devouring Spider Commander finally leading the elite Soul-Devouring Spiders into battle, Yuan Jue was not surprised but delighted, and quickly said in a deep voice.
Everyone naturally understood Yuan Jue's meaning. They immediately intensified their attacks on the front-row Soul-Devouring Spiders. With Feng Fei and his group's all-out efforts to eliminate them, a large number of Soul-Devouring Spiders on the outermost ring quickly perished.
These dead Soul-Eating Spiders weren't as charred and inedible as the previous ones, burned to a crisp. Upon the appearance of these corpses, the elite Soul-Eating Spider force, led by their commander, immediately descended into chaos. Some of the less controlled spiders swarmed around the dead ones and happily began to devour them. In fact, the corpses of their own kind were far more nutritious than living souls, as they were composed of almost identical components, making them extremely easy to digest. Therefore, the corpses of their own kind held a powerful attraction for them.
Of course, among the almost unintelligent Soul-Eating Spiders, there exists a subtle but unspoken rule: fratricide is forbidden. Only when a higher-ranking Soul-Eating Spider issues a permitted order can lower-ranking spiders fight. However, this is rare. Therefore, even elite Soul-Eating Spiders succumb to temptation and desert after a comrade's death.