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

If not for the Soul King's arrogance—camping alone in the Star Dou Forest, drinking himself into a vulnerable state—Fang Chang would never have succeeded so easily.

But there are no "what-ifs" in matters of survival.

After killing the Soul King, Fang Chang meticulously searched the surrounding area for the source of the meat that had been roasting earlier. Finding nothing, he begrudgingly left the scene.

"Such fortuitous opportunities don't come often," he thought.

Meanwhile, the Golden Generation trio continued their pursuit along Fang Chang's path. Along the way, they stumbled upon another soul beast's skeletal remains and the corpses of three Spirit Hall Soul Elders.

This brought the total number of casualties among Spirit Hall Soul Elders to four, with three of the bodies found near one another—indicating they were likely killed within a short time.

The sight made the trio's scalps tingle.

In just one day, the mutant Man-Faced Demon Spider had grown to such a terrifying degree. If left unchecked…

Yan gulped audibly, swallowing his pride. "We need to contact reinforcements nearby," he suggested, his tone heavy.

The spider's strength was beginning to overwhelm him. Though his arrogance prevented him from admitting it openly, the trio might already be no match for the creature.

Moreover, the spider's existence posed a threat to Spirit Hall's larger plans.

If the success of over a decade's preparation was jeopardized by this one creature, the consequences for them would be unthinkable.

"At first light, we'll call for reinforcements," Hu Liena said, biting her lip. Though she sounded reluctant, her voice carried conviction.

Someone as strong-willed as Hu Liena despised admitting defeat. Calling for reinforcements would mean acknowledging their failure to handle the spider alone.

Fang Chang, on the other hand, was quite pleased with the day's outcomes. Thanks to Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Festival, his strength had grown by leaps and bounds.

Later that evening, he found a rocky cave along the roadside. The cave was surrounded on three sides by sturdy stone walls, with only a small half-meter-wide entrance facing the road—just large enough for him to crawl through.

Satisfied with the cave's seclusion, Fang Chang folded his back legs, crawled inside, and positioned his shield-like forelegs across the entrance, effectively sealing it off.

With his defenses secured, he finally allowed himself to rest, giving his tense mind a rare moment of reprieve.

Species: Dragon Turtle (Devourable)

Soul Power: 5,500 years

HP: 2,900/2,900

Strength: 585

Attack: 596

Defense: 638

Speed: 252

The next morning, Fang Chang encountered his first prey of the day—a Dragon Turtle with over 5,000 years of soul power.

The name alone hinted at the creature's draconic lineage.

Upon seeing it, Fang Chang couldn't help but ridicule the dragons in his mind. "How promiscuous can they be? They even left descendants with turtles?"

"Compared to dragons, spiders are paragons of restraint in the soul beast world!"

But then, a strange thought crossed his mind: "Wait... What if it was a female dragon?"

When Fang Chang discovered the Dragon Turtle, it was in a swamp, trying to haul itself onto the shore.

Its front legs had reached dry ground, supporting half its body. Its neck stretched out as it scanned its surroundings with small, wary eyes.

For a full ten minutes, the creature remained in this position—its hindquarters still submerged in the swamp.

Fang Chang wasn't in a hurry. He knew turtles were far more formidable in water than on land. Engaging it in its aquatic domain would be unwise.

As the sun rose higher, Fang Chang stifled a yawn. His concealment skill deactivated momentarily, though the Dragon Turtle didn't notice him due to the distance.

Just as he was about to reactivate Concealment, the Dragon Turtle finally began to move.

Its front legs pushed forward, and its hindquarters strained against the swampy mud. However, the terrain's steep incline proved challenging.

One push… no success.

A second push… still no success.

A third…

After several failed attempts, the Dragon Turtle let out a low growl. Its body emitted a golden glow—its Dragon Power skill activating.

Empowered by the skill, its strength surged. With one final effort, it hauled its rear half out of the swamp and onto dry land.

Fang Chang observed patiently, knowing the turtle's vulnerability would only increase on land.

Now exposed, the Dragon Turtle's short legs became a liability. Despite its efforts to crawl, its movement was painfully slow.

After several minutes of sluggish progress, the Dragon Turtle reached a sunlit patch of land. As a cold-blooded creature, basking in the sun was a daily necessity—and the most dangerous part of its day.

Only when the golden glow of its Dragon Power skill faded did Fang Chang act.

Using Leap, he sprang from his hidden spot, landing directly behind the turtle.

Sensing a threat, the Dragon Turtle recoiled, pulling its head and legs into its sturdy shell.

Fang Chang approached, testing the shell with his legs. Its hardness produced a dull "thunk" that echoed ominously.

Most predators might give up at this point, but Fang Chang was no ordinary foe.

Using his shield legs and rear legs to brace himself, he hoisted his body onto the turtle's shell.

Then, he extended his middle legs, driving them into the gaps where the turtle's limbs had retreated.

The Dragon Turtle let out a guttural hiss, its hidden limbs straining to push Fang Chang's legs away. But the more it resisted, the deeper his legs pierced.

Soon, Fang Chang's venom began seeping into the creature's body. Its struggles grew weaker until, at last, it went limp.

Meanwhile, back at the barren land where the Golden Generation trio had last encountered Fang Chang, reinforcements had arrived.

This newly assembled group included four Soul Kings and eight Soul Elders, in addition to the Golden Generation trio.

Within hours, Spirit Hall had mobilized an elite team—a testament to its vast resources and influence.

Looking at the skeletal remains of the Earth Pit Demon Spider, now stripped bare, Hu Liena's eyes flashed with determination.

"Let's move," she commanded, leading the group forward.