Hssss… Hssss!
The Thousand-Year Man-Faced Demon Spider let out a bone-chilling hiss, its eight crimson compound eyes blazing with savage fury.
Its three-meter-tall body loomed like a nightmare.
Each spiked leg carved deep trenches into the earth as it moved.
The human face on its abdomen twisted into a grotesque sneer, as if savoring their terror.
BOOOOM!
The ground shook violently as the spider pounced.
Its razor-sharp forelimbs slashed through the air—death's scythes aimed straight at Tang Wulin's throat!
"Wulin—dodge!" Xie Xie screamed.
But it was too late.
Tang Wulin was utterly exhausted—his soul power drained from continuous use of "Blue Silver Bind."
He could only watch helplessly as the killing blades filled his vision.
Then—FLASH!
A silver streak tore through the sky.
Gu Yue descended like a comet, cradling Fang Yang in her arms—a divine intervention from the heavens!
The moment Fang Yang landed, his third soul ring erupted with abyssal black light.
From that ink-black ring radiated a soul-shattering pressure.
"Third Soul Skill: Flame Avatar!"
At his command, raging orange-red flames exploded from his body.
In an instant, the fire coalesced into a towering avatar—its form woven from Heavenly Flame, etched with arcane flame runes, blazing with power to scorch the eight desolations.
SIZZLE!
The spider's killing strike slammed into the Flame Avatar's upraised hand.
Where spider leg met Heavenly Flame, acrid black smoke hissed upward, flesh charring to cinders.
The Thousand-Year Man-Faced Demon Spider screeched in agony, yanking back its blackened limbs—its eight eyes flickering with primal fear for the first time.
Fang Yang's lips curled into a smirk. He glanced at the battered Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.
"Seems Gu Yue and I arrived just in time."
"FANG YANG!" Xie Xie's voice trembled with relief. His body sagged, nearly collapsing from tension.
Tang Wulin leaned on his knees, gasping. "Another second later… and we'd be dead in the Platform."
Fang Yang nodded. "Rest. We'll handle this."
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie exchanged glances—both seeing mirrored gratitude for their narrow escape.
Beside Fang Yang, Gu Yue assessed calmly: "Four Man-Faced Spiders. One is thousand-year grade."
Fang Yang surveyed the circling arachnids—and suddenly laughed.
"Good thing there aren't three."
"What do you mean?" Gu Yue tilted her head, black hair fluttering.
A spark of mischief lit Fang Yang's eyes. "Because Man-Faced Spiders can't add three—otherwise, they'd feed horses!"
The battlefield froze—stunned by the terrible pun.
(T/N: Only makes sense in Chinese don't worry about it lol)
Tang Wulin facepalmed. "Fang Yang… this is not the time for jokes…"
"Hey, just lightening the mood!" Fang Yang grinned—then his expression hardened.
"Gu Yue—ready!"
He raised his right hand—a ball of orange-red flame dancing in his palm.
Though seemingly gentle, its heat warped the very air around it.
The four spiders retreated a step in unison, sensing the Heavenly Flame's aura.
Their human faces contorted in pain—instinctively terrified of this flame.
"Oh? So you do know fear," Fang Yang sneered, killing intent flashing in his eyes. "Too late. You've already sealed your fate!"
Gu Yue moved in perfect sync. Her hands swept upward—emerald light flaring as wind energy gathered.
"Wind Binding!"
Invisible chains of wind snared the spiders' legs—not enough to imprison, but slowing their advance.
Fang Yang's first purple soul ring blazed!
"First Soul Skill: Fire Lotus Explosion!"
A flame lotus screamed toward the spiders.
BOOM!
Gu Yue's eyes blazed emerald—her first yellow ring igniting.
"First Soul Skill: Elemental Tide!"
Wind energy surged, feeding the flames.
Fire amplified the wind.
"Windfire Tornado!"
Heavenly Flame, supercharged by wind, exploded into a cataclysmic vortex, engulfing the arena.
The spiders howled in torment, writhing—but burned to ash all the same.
Xie Xie wiped his brow, chuckling. "Fang Yang… your flames are seriously overpowered!"
Tang Wulin nodded—earning an eye-roll from Xie Xie: "You're one to talk—your Blue Silver Grass…"
"Enough. Absorb the spirit beast energy," Fang Yang cut in. "My fire's aura will repel other beasts."
The four immediately sat cross-legged, drawing in the lingering energy.
—
In the control room, staff stared in awe.
"Truly… Lord Fang Yang…" a Spirit Pagoda attendant whispered, voice trembling with reverence.
Long Hengxu, representing Donghai Academy, watched silently.
Fang Yang hadn't just one-punched the Crystal Bear—his fire mastery was monstrous.
Gu Yue's elemental precision and multi-element fusion surpassed peers by leagues.
Even Tang Wulin and Xie Xie performed impressively—though overshadowed by the duo's brilliance.
As for Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi—the "crouching dragon and hidden phoenix"?
They stood glaring at the screens, faces twisted with envy.
"Damn it… they get to…" Zhang Yangzi clenched his fists.
Wang Jinxi's expression was darker—resignation, not rage.
Before absolute power, bitterness was meaningless.
When the last energy faded, Tang Wulin looked at Fang Yang.
"Xie Xie and I are logging out. What about you two?"
"The Elementary Platform offers little for Gu Yue and me," Fang Yang mused. "We'll return together."
Gu Yue nodded silently, her black hair stirring in the breeze.
The four pressed their emergency beacons—darkness swallowed them, their consciousness ripped from the Star Dou Forest.
Whirr…
Metal pod doors slid open. The four sprang to their feet in unison.
The real world's light stung their eyes—but the familiar air made them breathe easy.
"Next time…" Xie Xie cracked his knuckles, grinning, "I'll do even better!"
Tang Wulin clapped his shoulder—but his gaze drifted to Fang Yang and Gu Yue.
These monstrous teammates were both his greatest pressure… and his strongest motivation.
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