From the spider's husk rose a swirling purple spirit ring, suspended before them. Li Wei, Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang watched as Meng Yiran knelt, spirit power blossoming around her forming an aura to attract the spirit ring.
From the spider's abandoned shell rose a swirling purple ring, suspended in midair. Meng Yiran pressed a trembling palm to her chest as spirals of spirit light coalesced, drawing the ring downward. With a steadying breath, she inhaled its ancient power. A shudder rippled through her limbs as the third spirit ring sealed itself into her essence drawing it toward her back.
The battle over the domination will begin, as spirit master must face it—the consciousness of the spirit beast when dealing with over than thousand years.
"Granddaughter…" Meng Shu's voice was soft, tinged with pride and concern. He knelt beside her, staff planted firmly in the mossy earth. "Draw on your will. Let it guide you."
She sat there taking the time to absorb the spirit ring.
Chao Tianxiang rose, her serpent-patterned cane coiled at her side. She offered a small smile. "This may take the night," she murmured. "Rest when you must—but do not falter."
There nothing they can do to help Meng Yiran at this stage, she can only depend on her willpower to subdue it.
A hush fell over the group, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves. Meng Shu laid a proud eyes on his granddaughter figure and worrying about her state. He knew that her physical strength has increased many more than normal spirit master but he still felt worry.
Moonlight whispered through the ragged canopy of Star Dou Forest from overhead as Meng Yiran sat cross legged beside the spent carcass of the Man-Face Demon Spider. The clearing lay hushed, broken only by the soft sigh of stirred leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Beneath the silver glow, her breath came in shallow gasps, each exhalation scattering motes of spirit light that spiraled around her like restless fireflies. The spider's broken form oozed its final droplets of black bile, a grim reminder of the hunger that had driven it to countless killings.
She then open her eyes to the side of the world. Taken the view of the surrounding and realizing that the sun already fall and the moon greet her.
Meng Yiran heart hammered in her chest—part triumph, part exhaustion—as she placed a trembling palm over the glow blossoming in her chest. The third spirit ring hovered above her, a purple orb flecked with black sparks. She inhaled, summoning every ounce of will. The ring's light rushed downward, flooding her body in a tide of ancient power. A shudder rattled her limbs as the new strength took root.
Then, with a soft pop like a bubble bursting, something new appeared at her back around the waist. Meng Yiran's eyes widened as she drew forth a curved, chitinous fragment—gleaming midnight-black, serrated at one end, and etched with the faint heartbeat of the spider's last rage. It was an external spirit bone: the fang of the Man-Face Demon Spider itself. Legend held such trophies as prizes reserved for the greatest of heroes—and Tang San's canonical conquest sprang to mind of Li Wei.
She cradled the external spirit bone in both hands, its weight surprisingly comforting. A single pulse of memory swept through her: the creature's rasping breath, its venom-laced fangs snapping inches from her throat. Now that terror lay inert between her fingers.
"An external bone…" she whispered, voice thick with awe. "I never imagined…"
Beside her, Meng Shu's amber eyes shone in the moonlight. The old spirit master knelt, staff planted upright in the soft earth. His lips curved into a small, proud smile. "This spirit bone really suits you, my granddaughter," he murmured. "Only few and lucky person can claim such a prize."
Chao Tianxiang rose from her crouch, her serpent-patterned cane coiled at her side. She reached out, fingertips brushing the fang's tip. "This gift carries responsibility," she said softly, "Its power is great—and its hunger, deadly. Guard it well, Yiran"
Meng Yiran nodded, fingertips curling around the bone. The forest's chill air seemed to draw closer, as though the trees themselves leaned in to witness the moment. In that hush, she felt the spirit bone pulse against her palm—a living echo of the spider's ancient hunger.
Li Wei only stand on the side, watching over the grandfather and grandmother duo clattering toward their granddaughter.
---
When the ring's light finally ebbed, Meng Yiran rose unsteadily to her feet. The purple orb dissolved, sinking into the her back again. Her new spirit bone hummed, hungry for the next command. Li Wei, standing a respectful distance away, stepped forward.
"Grandfather, Grandmother," he called softly, "this spider was a two-thousand-year spirit beast. The external spirit bone that you saw is its essence—two thousand years of feral power.
"Not only that, I can feel it. This spirit bone—have it's own consciousness. It saying that that it will protect me. Even though she lost because the others help me, it acknowledge the strength that I had use at the last attack."
"Li wei, it's meant that this external spirit bone is the combination for the strength from the both of us.". Looking at Li Wei and then toward her own external spirit bone, she mutter. " Not only that, Fang— the name of the external spirit bone I give— said that it can felt a strong destiny toward us, that it forgot her own hunger at the last moment. It never felt that kind of feeling." That Fang then move seemingly like a wave.
"Hahaha." Meng Shu laugh aloud when he heard this. "A Spirit bone that can even retain it's consciousness, it is something that can be said as unheard of. Whether it is good or not, only times will tell." Meng Shu give a sigh at the last statement.
"Yiran, congratulations. You have gain more than any other Spirit Master even gain." His dark robe whispered over the fallen leaves. Even without his Diend armor, his calm presence grounded her like bedrock in a storm.
'A destiny. Does it felt the change that I will be able to make in this world? Hearing this make me felt that this vow, I must succeed.' He do not know of why a predator like this able to do something like that. It can be reason if it coming from soul beast that not classify as a hunter. 'I will just left it to the future me. Future is not something one might be able to think about but just deduce it. We will take one step at a times."
Hearing the compliment from Li Wei make her felt shy like a little girl. "It all thanks to you if you're not so adamant asking my grandparents to get the Man Face Demon spider, I will never obtain Fang." Even though Li Wei only thirteen years old, as spirit master their body will mature early as they become stronger.
Right now Li Wei height can be said to be the same as a fifteen years old.
"Grandfather," she said, voice steadying, "I… I want to test the abilities of my third spirit skill."
Meng Shu inclined his head. "You can demonstrate your third skill toward that tree, Yiran. Show us what this spirit ring unlocks."
Her pulse quickened. She drew the brittle silk of her academy uniform tight, then lifted her free hand. From the air before her, threads of emerald light began to coil—fine as spider-web, faintly phosphorescent.
"Web of the Demon's Gaze."
She then shot toward the tree.
She then focused her spirit power and she can feel that there is a connection between her and the silk. The silken filaments thickened into glowing strands that danced between two nearby trees. Each strand pulsed like a heartbeat, quivering with latent venom. Meng Yiran exhaled, summoning courage. Slowly she tried to work in tandem with the external spirit bone of the eight spider lance. Fang.
She can feels it, she can control the silk to change it shape using Fang and channel Fang poison through it. With a flick of her wrist, the web tightened, shimmering green as it resisted her pull.
Chao Tianxiang reached forward, grasping a strand. The moment her fingers closed around it, the web burned like acid, sizzling against her palm—and yet dissolved harmlessly when released. She able to felt that Yiran able to control the strength of the poison. She then summon her spirit power to check whether there is poison left and remove any poison residue if it there. It shock her that there is no poison even though it sizzle.
Meng Shu's deep voice rumbled with satisfaction. "It seems to be able to bonds with the spirit bones seamlessly. The venom lingers, yet you can control its potency."
Meng Shu's deep voice rumbled with satisfaction. "The venom lingers in your web, yet you hold its potency. A rare mastery—even most Soul Elders require months to learn such one advanced skill."
Meng Yiran's chest swelled with pride, even though this abilities because of the help from Fang, she is part of her so it is her talent. She glanced at Li Wei, gratitude shining in her dark eyes. I couldn't have done this without him… she thought.
"Not only that, I can also manifest the serpant blade head from any place that have this web." She then show it by manifesting the serpent blade from the web.
Seeing this all of them impressed.
Li Wei approached, nodding in approval. "Your speed and control are extraordinary. Your third skill will serve you well." This ability, combine with what he know from the modern it, he can be made into the saw.
Meng Yiran nodded, bowing her head to absorb the praise before lifting it again with renewed confidence.
She met his eyes, gratitude blooming within her. I couldn't have done this without his guidance.
Meng Shu patted his granddaughter's shoulder. "Rest now, Yiran. Tomorrow, our journey back will continues."
Chao Tianxiang offered a satchel of healing herbs. "Use these to recover."
Li Wei retrieved his Diendriver with a soft clink. "Then I'll return together with you guys to Cryptid Academy. I will be imposing then."
"Do you need to say that! You're here because of Yiran, not only that with your help Yiran can be considered one of the greatest genius. Hahaha!" Hearing what Li Wei saying he a disapproval glance. "We already considered you as part of the family, do not say something like that again. If you ever need our help in the future just tell. This favor we will remember it"
Hearing the word spoken by Meng Shu, Li Wei is full of gratitude."Thank you senior." Not many people able to stay true with their word but for the duo of Unrivaled Dragon Serpeant their word can be said to be the same as contract. People of this world always stay true to the word they spoken and for that he was grateful.
Meng Yiran smiled, then Fang began to be retract back into her waist.
Then with a smile she sat back on ground close to the campfire to rest, absorbing that spirit ring has taken a lot of her energy and she need to rest.
Seeing this, no one said anything. The rest of them then decide who will take the first watch and Lin Wei volunteer for it. Most of the work today has been done by both Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang, they need to rest more than him. He can take the rest after this.
He is not the main fighter, he is just support. He knew what import as he is also a game in he past life.
And in that soft light, the echoes of midnight trials faded—replaced by the promise of dawn, unity, and the quiet resolve to protect a world that would soon come to know their names.