Name: Fang Chang
Race: Dominator Demon Spider
Soul Power: 80,192 years
Evolution Points: 365,650
HP: 46,300/46,300
Strength: 14,650
Attack: 15,131
Defense: 21,020
Speed: 17,107
(Stats boosted by the "Domination" skill)
Over this period, Fang Chang's soul power growth had slowed significantly due to the need to feed his offspring.
While this was largely due to the demands of raising the spiderlings, part of it was also Fang Chang's own doing. He was deliberately suppressing his soul power growth.
The reason for this was his fear of the hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation.
According to the rules of this world, once a soul beast's soul power reaches a hundred thousand years, it faces two choices: either transform into a human and start cultivation anew, or face the heavenly tribulation.
Transforming into a human and starting over was self-explanatory, and Fang Chang had considered this path.
If he chose this route, he wouldn't have to face the dangers of the heavenly tribulation, and he could return to living as a human in this world.
However, after transforming, the skills he had worked so hard to acquire might become useless, his potential would be greatly diminished, and he would likely face threats in the human world.
Most importantly, over the past two to three years, he had gradually adapted to his identity as a spider, and his mindset had become more spider-like.
Even his sexual orientation had shifted toward creatures with eight legs, eight eyes, and furry bodies...
If he were to return to the human world now, he wasn't sure if he could adapt again.
Therefore, transforming was out of the question. The only path left for him was to face the heavenly tribulation.
The heavenly tribulation refers to the calamity that soul beasts face one thousand years after their cultivation reaches a hundred thousand years.
Of course, this one thousand years refers to soul beasts that cultivate normally. To be precise, the tribulation is triggered when a soul beast's soul power reaches a hundred and one thousand years.
This number still seemed far off, but with Fang Chang's devouring ability and his current strength, if he didn't restrain himself, he could reach it in a matter of days.
However, he wasn't confident about facing the tribulation yet. He didn't know how terrifying the heavenly tribulation was, having only seen a few mentions of it in the original story.
Therefore, he hoped to gain more survival skills before facing the tribulation, or at least evolve one more time.
Thinking this, Fang Chang looked at his evolution panel. As the number of evolutions increased, the evolution paths had gradually diverged. Now, he only had two options.
1. Emperor Demon Spider
Evolution Conditions: Soul power above 100,000 years, consume 300,000 evolution points, devour 100,000 soul beasts.
Evolution Rewards: Change in appearance, significant increase in attributes, partial changes to innate skills, full recovery of state, acquire innate skill "Emperor's Aura."
This path was the next stage after the "Mother of the Earth" form. Continuing down this path would eventually lead to the Mother of the Earth.
Originally, Fang Chang had been strongly opposed to this path, but after seeing the potential displayed by his spiderlings, he felt a faint sense of anticipation.
Wait, no! Fang Chang quickly pushed this strange thought out of his mind and looked at the next option.
2. Netherworld Soul-Chasing Spider
Evolution Conditions: Soul power above 100,000 years, consume 500,000 evolution points, devour three 100,000-year soul beasts.
Evolution Rewards: Change in appearance, significant increase in attributes, partial changes to innate skills, full recovery of state, acquire innate skill "Resurrection."
Hiss... Fang Chang took a sharp breath. This was the one!
Just the "Resurrection" skill alone was enough to attract him, especially since he was about to face the heavenly tribulation. If he could have a "Resurrection" skill, his chances of surviving the tribulation would skyrocket.
But upon closer inspection of the evolution conditions, Fang Chang's heart sank. Devouring three 100,000-year soul beasts? Easier said than done!
Currently, the only 100,000-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest were likely Da Ming, Er Ming, and possibly Xiao Wu.
Da Ming and Er Ming were always together, making it difficult for Fang Chang to target them at his current strength. As for Xiao Wu, her whereabouts were unknown, and she was likely with Da Ming and Er Ming.
This seemed like a dead end. As for the other sleeping powerhouses... Fang Chang didn't dare to provoke them.
Soon, he turned his attention to the sea... If he had to choose this path, he would have to venture into the ocean and try his luck.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King was definitely beyond his reach, but the Devil Spirit Great White Shark and the Evil Tiger Whale might be worth a try. If he could devour those two and then come back to sneak Xiao Wu...
Besides, he had already been considering a trip to Sea God Island. This was the perfect opportunity to go.
Fang Chang quickly made up his mind and began preparing for his journey to the sea.
"Fang Chang," just as he was getting excited about this plan, Xiao Bai's voice reached his ears. "It's time to take the children out to hunt."
Sigh... Her voice brought him back to reality.
Although the spiderlings were now capable of hunting on their own, Xiao Bai still insisted on having Fang Chang accompany them.
This had been going on for a while, and Fang Chang couldn't bring himself to refuse too strongly.
This time, the spiderlings' target was a ten-thousand-year soul beast—the Blazing Flame Tiger. This would be their first battle against a true ten-thousand-year soul beast.
With their experience from the Dragon Scorpion hunt, the spiderlings coordinated even more seamlessly. Even without Fang Chang's guidance, they could adjust their tactics on their own.
The Blazing Flame Tiger was perched on a tree, but the spiderlings took turns attacking the trunk, forcing it down.
Once it was on the ground, the Blazing Flame Tiger quickly found itself in a tough spot. Facing the relentless assault of the four spider teams, it struggled to fight back.
However, as a ten-thousand-year soul beast, it had a hint of intelligence. Realizing it couldn't win a prolonged battle, it turned and fled.
While it could be worn down in a direct fight, the spiderlings couldn't match its speed.
Seeing it escape, the spiderlings spat webs in an attempt to stop it.
But the Blazing Flame Tiger's body burst into flames, and the webs were burned away before they could take effect. The spiderlings were left bewildered, unsure of what to do.
Xiao Bai, seeing the Blazing Flame Tiger getting farther away, was about to intervene when Fang Chang stopped her. Letting them understand their limitations was more valuable than a ten-thousand-year prey.
As Fang Chang had expected, after this failure, the spiderlings seemed to mature significantly. They lost their previous laziness and often went out to hunt on their own.
Seeing their newfound determination, Fang Chang and Xiao Bai felt much more at ease. Fang Chang took this opportunity to explain his plans to Xiao Bai.
Although reluctant, she had evolved to a level of intelligence comparable to humans and understood the importance of Fang Chang's journey. In the end, she nodded in agreement.
Before leaving, Fang Chang gave her a little gift.