CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41 MAN-EATING SPIDER_1

On the school grounds, the senior year students had already assembled.

Wang Zhan quickly found Huang Pufeng and Song Dongming at the back of the lines and joined them.

On a high platform at the forefront, Vice Principals Liu Zhenfeng and Lv Zhenglong stood, with a group of mentors—Martial Masters and above—behind them.

Seeing that most of the students had arrived, Liu Zhenfeng suddenly exuded an overwhelming intimidation. In just the blink of an eye, the previously noisy grounds became deathly silent.

"I believe your mentors have already clearly explained this operation, so I will not go into further detail," Liu Zhenfeng said expressionlessly. "May you return triumphant!"

Liu Zhenfeng’s voice was exceptionally resonant, and for a moment, the students were stirred with intense emotion.

"Triumphant!"

"Triumphant!"

"Good spirit." Liu Zhenfeng nodded. With a sweep of his hand across the crowd, he commanded, "Depart!"

As his words fell, two thousand students quickly dispersed, found their teammates, and headed towards the wilderness area.

Such a large number of Martial Artists could not possibly operate together. Therefore, the mentors had already established strict team assignments before the operation.

During this operation, the students would also be conducting beast sweeps in these small teams.

Wang Zhan, Huang Pufeng, and Song Dongming set off with the others, soon arriving beneath the walls of Base City.

Just as the three of them were preparing to enter the wilderness area, Wang Zhan suddenly halted.

It was because he saw a familiar figure at the entrance.

"That’s Senior Wang Qi, one of the top three in the senior year rankings," Huang Pufeng said, his voice filled with admiration as he also spotted her. "I heard she has already broken through to Level 7 Martial Artist, and many factions have extended olive branches to her."

"She is very strong, with a solid foundation, and has broken her limits several times," Song Dongming said solemnly. "Indeed, she’s one of the most outstanding individuals the Martial Arts Academy has seen in recent years."

Wang Zhan glanced at his two companions.

"I didn’t realize before. Are you two her simps?"

"Wang Zhan, you’re only a freshman, so you probably haven’t heard of Senior Wang Qi’s reputation," Huang Pufeng said with a laugh. "Can’t blame you. After all, when you enrolled, Senior Wang Qi was already navigating the wilderness area with ease."

"Speaking of which, who is Senior Wang Qi waiting for?" Song Dongming asked curiously.

This question was soon answered. Upon spotting Wang Zhan, Wang Qi strode over to him and grabbed his ear.

"Ouch! Sis, so many people are watching! Give me some face!"

"Sis?!" Huang Pufeng and Song Dongming stared, wide-eyed.

Wang Qi, her face stern, said, "I’m standing guard here today. You’re not taking a single step into the wilderness area!"

Hearing this, Wang Zhan instantly understood. Wang Qi was waiting here because she had found out he was participating in the operation.

"This was approved by the school’s high-levels," Wang Zhan said, pulling his ear free from Wang Qi’s grasp. He added, annoyed, "You can protect me for a moment, but can you protect me for a lifetime?"

His words left Wang Qi speechless.

After a long silence, Wang Qi sighed softly. "But... this operation is different. It’s too soon for you."

"When beasts attack the city, do they consider whether humans can resist?" Wang Zhan retorted. "Besides, my strength isn’t as pathetic as you think!"

"I know, but..." Wang Qi faltered, unsure how to respond.

She looked at Wang Zhan, only to find him meeting her gaze, unwavering.

The boy who used to turn and run at the sight of her now showed a determination and stubbornness she had never seen before.

"Fine, do as you wish." Wang Qi shook her head and turned to leave.

But after only a few steps, she stopped.

"Remember, come back alive."

"Of course. You too," Wang Zhan nodded firmly.

Wang Qi quickly left with her teammates. Wasting no time, Wang Zhan also headed into the wilderness area with his own team, eager to get started.

Meanwhile, seventy to eighty kilometers from Base City, deep within the jungles of the wilderness area, an agile figure was fiercely battling a leopard over two meters tall.

"Yao Yao, make it quick!"

"Got it, Senior Brother Qian Gui!" Yao Yao replied, her attack pace suddenly quickening.

The leopard-shaped beast, unable to dodge, was pierced in the stomach by Yao Yao’s knife-hand strike.

Fresh blood flowed freely, pooling on the ground. When Yao Yao withdrew her hand from the leopard’s belly, another spray of blood gushed out, drenching her clothes and face.

Feeling the metallic tang in the air, Yao Yao’s expression remained unchanged.

During her time in the wilderness area, she had long since grown accustomed to such things.

"Not bad. You broke through to Level 3 Martial Artist in such a short time, and your physical strength is keeping pace. The Gene Liquid is working great!" Qian Gui said with a smile as he approached.

He first extracted the beast core from the leopard’s head and, without asking Yao Yao, tossed it directly to a subordinate behind him. Only then did he speak, "Let’s find the next target. It’s time for you to try fighting a Level 4 beast."

There wasn’t a shred of hesitation in Qian Gui’s tone, as if Yao Yao were merely a test subject, not a person.

Yao Yao frowned slightly.

"I’m a bit tired. This leopard is a Level 3 beast; I feel it was already at my limit," Yao Yao stated coldly. "Facing a Level 4 beast, I don’t stand a chance of winning."

Hearing this, Qian Gui looked at Yao Yao coldly.

"If you can’t win, you die! Your sole purpose right now is to help us determine the ultimate effects of the Gene Potion! If this task isn’t completed, none of us will have an easy time."

"But..."

"No ’buts’!" Qian Gui stated firmly. "Surely, you don’t want to face punishment from the School Master when we return, do you?"

Yao Yao’s expression stiffened.

"Alright, I understand."

Ultimately, Yao Yao conceded to Qian Gui’s demand. The group from the Martial Arts School continued their journey through the wilderness area, searching for their next test subject.

In the afternoon, the Team of Wang Zhan and two others had already penetrated twenty kilometers deep into the wilderness area.

At this point, Wang Zhan could sense that this region was different from what they had previously encountered.

"More Demonic Dogs of the Plains," Wang Zhan remarked, casually dispatching a Level 3 Demonic Dog of the Plains. Huang Pufeng and Song Dongming teamed up to eliminate the remaining Level 2 and Level 1 Demonic Dogs.

In just half an hour, the three of them had wiped out dozens of Demonic Dogs.

"It seems the changes in the outer reaches of the wilderness area are more significant than we imagined," Wang Zhan said, his expression grave as he collected beast cores. "Demonic Dogs of the Plains usually inhabit the Valley Plain. For them to be driven out here, it suggests their territory was usurped by a more formidable beast—a classic case of the dove in the magpie’s nest."

"Didn’t the mentors tell us? Large numbers of Level 5 and above beasts have been appearing. Demonic Dogs of the Plains are numerous, but not particularly strong; it’s normal for them to be driven off," Huang Pufeng replied casually.

Along the way, the trio had already eliminated countless common beasts.

Besides the Demonic Dogs of the Plains, many other low-level beasts, rarely seen before, had appeared. This forced the three to constantly deal with these otherwise insignificant creatures, slowing their progress considerably.

The trio worked efficiently, quickly clearing the area.

However, just as they were preparing to move on, a tremendous roar echoed from the distance.

ROAR!

The sound, tinged with agony, sent a shiver down the spines of Wang Zhan and his companions.

"That’s a big guy, Level 5 or above," Wang Zhan noted. "Shall we go take a look? Some seniors should be dealing with it."

"Let’s go," Huang Pufeng and Song Dongming readily agreed.

The three of them cautiously headed in the direction of the roar. A few minutes later, a large clearing appeared before them.

At that moment, in the clearing, three students from the Martial Arts Academy were engaged in a fierce battle with a giant spider.

"Man-Eating Spider. Harmless in its juvenile stage, but possesses the strength of at least a Level 5 beast upon reaching adulthood," Song Dongming identified the creature.

"Harmless when young?" Wang Zhan was taken aback. "Such a ferocious beast is harmless when it’s young?"

"If you birth hundreds or thousands in a single brood, your young can’t cause much trouble," Huang Pufeng shot Wang Zhan a look; the kid might be formidable, but he was surprisingly ignorant about such basic knowledge.

Huang Pufeng explained, "Insect-type beasts are generally like this. However, the Man-Eating Spider matures very quickly, transitioning from juvenile to adult in just a few months. That’s why they’re so troublesome to deal with—each one is practically a walking nest."

The three of them hid in the shadows, analyzing the battlefield.

It was clear that although the Man-Eating Spider was enormous, its speed wasn’t particularly great. The three seniors attacking it, however, all seemed to excel in agility.

Though the outcome was not yet decided, it was quite apparent that the three seniors had the upper hand; victory was only a matter of time.

"There’s a mentor watching from over there. Should we leave?" Huang Pufeng asked, glancing at the mentor in the distance.

Wang Zhan and Song Dongming naturally had no objections. Since they couldn’t intervene, there was no point in staying.

But just as the three of them were about to leave, cries of alarm suddenly erupted from the clearing.

"Watch out!"

Immediately after, a large amount of green slime gushed from the rear of the Man-Eating Spider’s abdomen, mixed with numerous oval-shaped white spider eggs—an utterly repulsive sight.

A nauseating stench gradually permeated the air, causing Wang Zhan, Huang Pufeng, and Song Dongming, even at a distance, to cover their noses and mouths.

"It stinks!" Wang Zhan’s face contorted.

Song Dongming’s expression, however, turned grave.

"This is trouble. The Man-Eating Spider just used its innate ability; it’s about to escape!"

Before Song Dongming could finish speaking, the Man-Eating Spider’s eight hairy, thick legs began to burrow into the earth. All eight legs worked in eerie harmony, creating a bizarre spectacle.

In just a few seconds, half of the Man-Eating Spider’s body had sunk into the ground.

Due to the putrid stench of the slime, the three senior students from the Martial Arts Academy couldn’t get close.

"The Man-Eating Spider is getting away," Wang Zhan frowned, looking towards the mentor on the other side. However, the mentor showed no intention of intervening.

Wang Zhan couldn’t just stand by and watch. He immediately got up and rushed towards the battlefield.