Douluo Dalu: Starting Evolution as the Man-Faced Demon Spider

Three Human Soul Masters!

Fang Chang had just approached the barren wasteland and spotted the three members of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation from a distance. The killing intent he had felt a moment earlier gradually subsided.

These three were elites carefully nurtured by Spirit Hall, prodigies capable of holding their own against the monstrous talents of the Shrek Seven Devils.

Although they were all Soul Masters, their superior martial souls and top-tier equipment made them far more formidable than typical Soul Masters of the same level.

Given his current strength, Fang Chang could likely ambush and kill most Soul Masters, but these three were clearly exceptions.

If he were up against just one of them, Fang Chang might have a fair chance. Against two, it would be a stretch. But all three at once? Out of the question.

Moreover, as rising stars of Spirit Hall, they were almost certainly under protection. If a Title Douluo were to suddenly show up while he made his move, things would get... interesting.

Swallowing hard, Fang Chang decided to exercise caution. Not yet.

His gaze shifted to the corpse of the Earth Pit Demon Spider lying next to the trio. A twinge of regret stirred in his heart.

This spider had been the first of her kind Fang Chang had encountered since arriving in this world, and she had even seemed compatible in terms of form. Seeing her slain like this left him feeling inexplicably somber.

"I'll avenge you someday, but for now, survival and growth come first."

Slipping into the shadows of a nearby tree, Fang Chang activated his Concealment skill and waited patiently for the three humans to leave.

Meanwhile, Xie Yue, annoyed at his companions' delay, finally spoke up.

"Are you two done yet? It's getting late. Let's get moving already!"

He glanced pointedly at Hu Liena, who had been "tending" to Yan for over half an hour. His irritation was palpable.

"Done! Done!" Yan replied breathlessly, his voice weak. To him, Xie Yue's words felt like a lifeline.

"Wait, there's still a spot I haven't... finished applying the medicine," Hu Liena countered, her tone dangerously sweet.

"No! That's fine, Nana! I-I can do it myself!" Yan stammered, nearly in tears.

He had been holding back for so long, determined to maintain his image in front of his goddess. Yet, Hu Liena's relentless "care" had pushed him to his breaking point.

Despite his protests, Hu Liena seemed to be enjoying herself, her mischievous streak on full display. Beneath their high status and strict upbringing, they were still teenagers with a penchant for mischief.

Hu Liena's eyes narrowed playfully, her voice taking on a mix of coaxing and teasing. "Don't worry, I've got this."

"That's enough!" Xie Yue finally snapped, unable to watch any longer. "Time to move! Are we still hunting the mutant Man-Faced Demon Spider or not?"

While he had no qualms about pushing Yan toward his sister, watching them banter like this stirred an inexplicable discomfort in him.

Yan, relieved, jumped to his feet, quickly adjusting his clothes. In his heart, he clung to the belief that Hu Liena's actions weren't meant to torment him.

"She must care about me. Why else would she agree to treat my wounds?"

Hu Liena sighed in resignation, reluctantly following behind her brother. Her demeanor was as if she'd been robbed of her favorite toy.

"This way," she directed, leading the group toward the patch of greenery where Fang Chang lay hidden.

Fang Chang's nerves tightened as the trio approached. He concentrated on suppressing his presence, ensuring that not even the faintest movement betrayed his position.

"Not yet," he reminded himself. "I need to grow stronger before I confront them."

Hu Liena led the group into the lush greenery, her alertness visibly heightened as the scenery changed. Her sharp eyes scanned the area, her instincts on edge.

When they neared Fang Chang's hiding spot, Hu Liena suddenly halted. She raised a hand, signaling the others to stop, her gaze locking onto the bush where Fang Chang was concealed.

She sensed it—a faint presence watching them from the shadows.

Stepping cautiously forward, the feeling intensified. Without hesitation, she summoned her Demon Fox martial soul, casting her Charm skill toward the bush.

Behind her, Yan and Xie Yue immediately summoned their martial souls, adopting combat stances.

Fang Chang felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. His vision blurred, his body flushed with heat, and a strange yearning began to creep in...

Wait—no, it didn't.

The effects he expected from the Charm skill didn't manifest. Aside from a brief moment of disorientation, he felt completely fine.

He glanced at Hu Liena again. Sure, she looked decent... for a human.

But it was the same way someone might admire a well-groomed Afghan Hound—not in any way that stirred deeper emotions.

"Huh. Turns out, I've lost interest in human females," Fang Chang mused, feeling oddly detached.

"Strange," Hu Liena muttered, dispelling the fox's projection. Perhaps she had imagined it.

Turning to her companions, she gestured for them to move on. "Let's go."

Watching the trio's retreating figures, Fang Chang exhaled deeply, his relief palpable. "I've dealt with her before. Best to steer clear in the future."

Ten minutes later, after confirming the coast was clear, Fang Chang cautiously emerged from the underbrush and approached the corpse of the Earth Pit Demon Spider.

Standing before the lifeless form of the spider, he sighed again. He considered reciting a prayer for her, but couldn't recall any proper chants. The best he could manage was a fragment of the Great Compassion Mantra, though it came out as a series of incomprehensible clicks and hisses.

Still, there was an odd sincerity to it.

After paying his respects, Fang Chang lowered his shield-like forelegs, bowing deeply toward the spider's remains.

Then, without hesitation, he began to feast.

Half an hour later, all that remained of the Ten Thousand-Year Earth Pit Demon Spider was its skeleton. Fang Chang bowed once more before leaving the area, deciding to take a different route along the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest to avoid crossing paths with the Golden Generation again.