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

Evolution Progress:

79,101/100,000

81,192/100,000

83,163/100,000

100,023/100,000 – Evolution conditions met.

As Fang Chang continued to devour Green Ghost Leeches, his evolution points steadily increased until he finally met the requirements for evolving into the Shadow Demon Spider. Without hesitation, he selected the "Evolve" option.

Fang Chang's carapace began to crack, emitting a radiant burst of violet-black light. Thick black mist seeped from the fissures, enveloping a ten-meter radius around him in a shroud of darkness.

The cracked armor began to shed in pieces, revealing a new, darker exoskeleton underneath. With a resounding "boom," the old armor completely shattered, and the mist dissipated to reveal Fang Chang's transformed form.

Standing in the swamp was a far more menacing creature. Fang Chang's body had grown significantly:

Length: Over five meters.

Height: Exceeding three meters.

Legs: Eight blade-like legs, slender and razor-sharp, resembling gleaming steel sabers.

Front Legs: Two shield-like appendages, now resembling massive iron gates, boasting immense thickness and unmatched defensive capabilities.

New Talent Skill: Mind Link

Description: Enables Fang Chang to read opponents' thoughts in battle, allowing him to anticipate their attacks.

Additional Feature: Establishes telepathic communication with other creatures for direct exchanges of thoughts.

"Mind Link! This skill is incredible!" Fang Chang marveled. Its utility in combat and everyday life was undeniable.

As someone who was previously human and quite talkative, Fang Chang had felt stifled in this world. Except for understanding the speech of human soul masters, he had been isolated from all other creatures. This skill was exactly what he had longed for.

Skill Upgrades

A series of notifications flooded his vision as his existing abilities transformed:

"Poison Web" → "Enhanced Poison Web"

Increased toxicity. Removed usage limits.

"Spider Spear" → "Enhanced Spider Spear"

Increased piercing power and toxicity.

"Stealth" → "Shadow Walk"

Allows Fang Chang to move freely while remaining undetected. Shadow Walk only breaks upon initiating an attack.

"Blade Armor" → "Enhanced Blade Armor"

Defense boost: 20% → 50%. Damage reflection increased: 20% → 50%.

"Poison Mist" → "Toxic Breath"

Allows Fang Chang to directly spray poison mist from his mouth, with a maximum range of ten meters.

Fang Chang's new abilities were far superior to their previous versions. It felt like transitioning from thousand-year soul skills to ten-thousand-year soul skills. While the mechanics remained similar, the limitations were removed, and the effects were amplified significantly.

Among these upgrades, Shadow Walk stood out the most. Previously, Fang Chang could only stay hidden while stationary, making the skill suitable for ambushes or hiding. Now, with the ability to move freely, he could engage in dynamic stealth tactics, from silent approaches to seamless escapes.

The evolution also healed Fang Chang's severed leg and abdominal wound. However, he remained wary of the mysterious and powerful presence that had attacked him earlier.

For three days, he lay submerged in the swamp, using Shadow Walk to remain hidden. Only on the fourth night did he cautiously surface and approach the Spirit Hall's abandoned campsite.

The Golden Generation trio was long gone. The decomposing bodies of the slain soul masters lay scattered, filling the air with a putrid stench.

In an unusual act of "mercy," Fang Chang pushed the corpses into the swamp, allowing the Green Ghost Leeches to consume them instead of letting them rot in the open.

What caught his attention was the faint glow of a still-burning fire. The freshly replaced wood indicated recent activity.

Activating Shadow Walk, Fang Chang concealed himself and waited. Before long, a middle-aged soul master stumbled out from the nearby forest, clutching his stomach. His unsteady gait suggested that he was still recovering from injuries.

This man was the same Soul Elder who had survived the Blackwater Crocodile's attack. During Fang Chang's earlier rampage, he had been unconscious in a tent, narrowly avoiding death.

Abandoned by the Golden Generation in their hasty retreat, he had survived on the camp's remaining rations and water. Only now, on the fourth day, could he barely manage to walk.

The Soul Elder immediately noticed something was amiss. The corpses that had littered the campsite were gone. Panicked, he stumbled back into the forest, scanning his surroundings with wide, fearful eyes.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind:

"Are there others with you?"

The voice was cold and emotionless, neither male nor female, yet filled with an undeniable presence.

"Who—who's there?!"

The Soul Elder's eyes darted around, but he saw nothing.

"Answer my question."

He clamped his hands over his ears, but the voice persisted, resonating directly in his mind.

"Speak!"

The mental pressure overwhelmed him. Terrified and disoriented, he let out a desperate scream and lashed out with random attacks at the empty air.

His erratic movements reopened his wounds, causing him to collapse to one knee in pain.

When he finally calmed down, the voice returned:

"Now, tell me: are you alone?"

The Soul Elder shivered, sweat streaming down his face. Assuming he was dealing with a fearsome creature, he stammered, "Y-yes! I'm alone! Please, don't kill me, senior!"

Satisfied that the man was truthful, Fang Chang pressed on.

"Why did you come to the Star Dou Forest?"

The Soul Elder kowtowed frantically, his voice trembling. "I—I don't know! We were just ordered to hunt soul beasts in this area. Later, the Holy Maiden called us to capture the mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider!"

Hearing no deceit in the man's words, Fang Chang considered his next move. Still concealed, he spoke again through their mental link:

"Take me to your comrades. Surely you have a way to contact them."