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

Name: Fang Chang

Species: Ghost Armor Demon Spider

Soul Power: 8,125 years

Evolution Points: 51,160

HP: 2,793/3,025 (Recovering Slowly)

Strength: 762

Attack: 789

Defense: 1,138

Speed: 875

Thanks to the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation trio, Fang Chang managed to gain the benefits of a 10,000-year soul beast's corpse with minimal effort.

"If only opportunities like this came around more often," he mused.

Though feeding on corpses felt somewhat unsavory, the ability to grow stronger without fighting was undeniably appealing.

Meanwhile, the Golden Generation trio arrived at the spot where Fang Chang had devoured the Four-Eyed Golden Horned Snake.

Hu Liena immediately noticed the skeletal remains and hurried forward. She bent down to examine the massive bones, which had been stripped clean, not even a shred of meat remaining.

Despite the pristine condition of the skeleton, signs of a recent battle lingered in the area. Several green arrows were still embedded in the bones, their bloodstains partially dried into a gel-like consistency.

"Nana, over here."

Hu Liena's focus was broken by Xie Yue, who called her over to a large tree with a trunk about five or six meters thick. At its base lay the twisted, unclothed corpse of a middle-aged man.

Hu Liena glanced at the scene, her face flushing bright red. She quickly turned away, covering her eyes with her hands. "Brother!"

Her reproachful tone carried a sharpness that sent a shiver through Xie Yue, making his teeth ache.

Suppressing his discomfort, Xie Yue pointed at the body, his voice now serious. "He's one of ours."

Hearing this, Hu Liena forced herself to turn back. Picking up part of the torn robe from the ground, she confirmed, "Yes, he's one of our people."

At this point, Yan had also approached, his expression heavy. The trio exchanged grave looks.

While they weren't directly involved in Spirit Hall's current plans, they were privy to some of the details. The organization had dispatched over a hundred soul masters into the Star Dou Forest, including a Title Douluo as the leader and many Soul Kings and Soul Emperors.

Yet here lay one of their own, slain by the mutant Man-Faced Demon Spider.

"Damn it! What was the Whitewater City branch thinking? They said this spider only had 3,000 to 4,000 years of soul power! Now look at the mess it's caused!" Yan growled, frustration evident.

He felt like the spider was leading them by the nose, and the more they pursued it, the stronger it seemed to grow. If this continued, they might not even be able to defeat it.

"We press on." Xie Yue's tone was resolute. "We can't let this mutant Man-Faced Demon Spider continue to run amok!"

On Fang Chang's end, he was moving in the opposite direction, steadily increasing the distance between himself and the trio.

Yet as he ventured further, he noticed a significant drop in the number of soul beasts.

After two hours of travel, he had encountered only one—a 5,000-year-old Golden Crane. The crane, unusually sensitive, fled the moment it saw him.

As night fell, the forest grew increasingly eerie. The darkness cloaked the surroundings in an oppressive atmosphere.

Suddenly, Fang Chang noticed a faint glow through the trees ahead. Lowering his body, he crept closer, using the underbrush for cover. Peering out, his eight eyes locked onto the source of the light.

It was a campfire. A human sat by the fire, roasting something over the flames. The aroma wafting through the air stirred Fang Chang's long-dormant excitement for food.

After surviving for months on raw meat, the smell of roasted food felt intoxicating.

"Strange... This is the Four Rings area of the Star Dou Forest. Most soul beasts here are at least 5,000 years old. What kind of lunatic would camp here alone?"

Maintaining caution, Fang Chang moved closer, finding a concealed vantage point to observe the human more closely.

Name: Duan Tao

Species: Human

Soul Power: 54th-level Soul King

Martial Soul: Lone Wolf

"A Soul King..." Fang Chang's thoughts raced.

Killing this Soul King would count toward his evolution requirements, but it would be no easy task.

While the gap between a Soul Elder and a Soul King might seem small, the actual difference in power was immense. Soul Kings were a class apart, with an additional soul ring and far greater strength.

Based on his assessment, this human's strength was likely on par with the Earth Pit Demon Spider he had consumed earlier.

If the Soul King was alone, Fang Chang was confident he could take him down. But if he had companions nearby, things could get dicey.

Activating his Concealment skill, Fang Chang remained hidden, carefully observing the Soul King from a distance.

Humans differed significantly from soul beasts.

Soul beasts were fiercely territorial, with high-level ones rarely tolerating company unless they were of the same species or closely related.

Humans, however, were social creatures. They thrived in groups and were fiercely protective of their own. Killing one often risked provoking retaliation from others.

Time passed slowly. The Soul King remained oblivious to Fang Chang's watchful gaze.

The man, now done roasting his food, ate heartily, alternating between bites of meat and swigs from a flask of wine. His enjoyment only deepened Fang Chang's hunger.

After finishing his meal, the Soul King appeared slightly intoxicated. He staggered to a nearby tree, leaning against it before settling down to sleep.

Minutes turned into tens of minutes. No other humans appeared, and the campfire dwindled to embers. The Soul King's snores echoed through the forest.

Finally, Fang Chang decided to act.

Circling around, Fang Chang approached from behind, keeping his movements slow and deliberate.

When he was within two meters of the sleeping Soul King, he struck.

Bursting forth, Fang Chang raised his shield-like forelegs in anticipation of any counterattack. At the same time, two sharp legs drove toward the Soul King's chest and abdomen.

The sudden burst of killing intent jolted the Soul King awake. Reacting instinctively, he summoned his martial soul.

But it was too late. Fang Chang's legs pierced his body, blood spraying as they drove deep into his flesh.

Despite his grievous wounds, the Soul King demonstrated the resilience befitting his rank. With a roar of pain, he swung his arm in a desperate counterattack, his martial soul projection joining the fray.

A heavy blow landed on Fang Chang's shield legs, producing a dull thud. But Fang Chang remained unmoved, bracing himself against the strike.

With a final push, his sharp legs drove deeper, emerging from the Soul King's back.

The Soul King attempted to raise his hand for another attack, but it fell limp mid-motion. His body collapsed, lifeless.

A once-proud Soul King, now slain by a cunning predator.