Chapter 66: A Sudden Surge in Strength
After devouring the Ethereal Fragrance Exquisite Immortal Blossom, Fang Chang immediately set his sights on the two immortal-grade treasure herbs nearby: the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot. Or rather, two immortal-grade poisonous herbs.
Variety: Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass
Grade: Immortal-Grade Treasure Herb
Age: 10,000 years
Variety: Infernal Delicate Apricot
Grade: Immortal-Grade Treasure Herb
Age: 10,000 years
These two herbs grew on the edges of the red and white halves of the spring, respectively. They absorbed the properties of both sides—one was extremely cold, the other extremely hot—and both were highly toxic.
If it were anyone else, they wouldn't dare to be so reckless. Even Tang San in the original story, despite knowing the method of consumption, suffered greatly before finally absorbing the two immortal-grade herbs.
But for Fang Chang, there were no such concerns. With both ice and fire immunities, he had no fear of the herbs' properties. As for the toxicity, after consuming the Ethereal Fragrance Exquisite Immortal Blossom, even the most potent poison became a tonic for him.
He swaggered forward, swallowing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass in one bite, then turned around and took a few steps to devour the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
The two herbs dissolved in his body one after the other, releasing their medicinal power. Even from the outside, it was clear that Fang Chang was undergoing a transformation.
His body now resembled the spring—half red and half white.
The red half of his spider body emitted white smoke, occasionally spitting out tongues of flame, with the smoke rising upward. The white half of his body released a cold mist, his exoskeleton covered in a thin layer of ice, with the mist sinking downward.
Yet, looking at Fang Chang's expression, he didn't seem too uncomfortable. He sat cross-legged on the ground with his back four spider legs, his two shield-like legs supporting his body, while the remaining two legs occasionally scratched an itch. He waited calmly for the medicinal power to be fully absorbed.
This state lasted for about an hour. Gradually, the colors on Fang Chang's body faded back to his normal purple-black, and the medicinal power of the two herbs was completely absorbed.
『Successfully devoured Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. Low-Level Ice Immunity upgraded to High-Level Ice Immunity』
High-Level Ice Immunity: Completely immune to all ice-based attacks and unaffected by any low-temperature environments. Ice-based damage received will be converted into an equal amount of healing.
...
『Successfully devoured Infernal Delicate Apricot. Low-Level Fire Immunity upgraded to High-Level Fire Immunity』
High-Level Fire Immunity: Completely immune to all fire-based attacks and unaffected by any high-temperature environments. Fire-based damage received will be converted into an equal amount of healing.
Fang Chang exhaled a puff of white mist, his body gradually returning to normal. The upgrades to these skills were within his expectations. Checking his status panel, he saw that his soul power had increased by another 2,000 years.
After dealing with these two herbs, Fang Chang's next target was the famous "Yearning Heartbroken Red."
This herb's role in the original story arguably surpassed the combined effects of all other immortal-grade herbs. It could save lives and accelerate cultivation.
However, its harvesting method was bizarre. One had to focus wholeheartedly on a loved one and then spit a mouthful of heart's blood onto it.
Fang Chang tried several times but failed to pluck the flower. In a fit of anger, he simply swallowed the entire plant, flower and leaves included.
But this immortal-grade herb was strange. Even after being swallowed, it didn't dissolve and remained intact.
Eventually, Fang Chang spat it out in frustration, stomped on it a few times, and finally kicked it into the "ice pool" of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
After this, Fang Chang became less picky. Starting from the southern end of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he began a sweeping rampage. Whether it was ordinary herbs or immortal-grade treasures, if it was within sight, it went into his stomach.
From the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, and Aromatic Silk Beauty… down to the most common wild rose that barely qualified as a medicinal herb, Fang Chang spared nothing.
Medicinal herbs, after all, weren't soul beasts. They had no way to resist a glutton like Fang Chang and could only be devoured.
Unfortunately, there were too few immortal-grade herbs here, and their ages were only around 10,000 years. Otherwise, Fang Chang might have broken through several major levels just by staying here.
The once-lush Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was rapidly becoming barren, as if it had been struck by a locust—or rather, a spider—plague.
After devouring all the herbs in the area, Fang Chang still wasn't satisfied.
He used his spider legs to turn over the soil in the herb garden, then activated his "Poison Mist Breath" skill, saturating the soil with toxic mist.
Only then did he feel at ease. After this, the area would likely remain barren for the next decade.
It was only at this point that Fang Chang noticed a new notification in his vision.
『Soul power has surpassed 20,000 years. Obtained sixth racial skill: "Slippery"』
Slippery: When activated, the user's exoskeleton is coated in mucus. When attacked, the attacker's attack speed and movement speed are halved.
As expected… what was coming had arrived. Fang Chang was already accustomed to these skills and didn't feel particularly excited.
Name: Fang Chang
Race: Shadow Venom Spider
Soul Power: 22,500 years
Evolution Points: 94,910
HP: 9,700/9,700
Strength: 2,283
Attack: 2,439
Defense: 2,910
Speed: 2,662
Checking his status panel, he confirmed that his soul power had indeed reached over 22,000 years.
Now, his attributes were roughly one-tenth of the Titan Giant Ape he had encountered before. What a sad story.
If converted to human soul master levels, a 10,000-year soul beast was equivalent to a Soul King; a 20,000-year soul beast was equivalent to a Soul Emperor; a 40,000-year soul beast was roughly at the level of a Soul Sage; and by 60,000 years, one would be approaching the threshold of a Soul Douluo.
Of course, this was based on the most ordinary soul beasts. Soul beasts of the same level were generally stronger than humans, and those capable of cultivating to high levels were rarely weak.
This was especially true for rare bloodlines or freaks like Fang Chang who had evolved multiple times.
More importantly, starting from 10,000 years, soul beasts would gradually develop intelligence. The higher their cultivation, the stronger their intelligence, often rivaling that of humans. Such soul beasts were even more difficult for humans to handle.
On the human side, the higher the level, the more pronounced the differences in martial soul quality became, leading to vast disparities in strength. Occasionally, a freak would emerge who could rival soul beasts of the same level.
Fang Chang took one last look at the now-barren Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, then turned his gaze to the top of the valley. Activating his "Stealth" skill, his eight spider legs worked in unison, allowing him to climb out of the valley as easily as he had entered.
Once outside, he activated his "Hunting Instinct" skill, targeting slimes.
With his soul power continuously increasing, Fang Chang's attributes had surged dramatically. His previous Regeneration Lv. 4, even after upgrading to Regeneration Lv. 5, still felt insufficient.
Now was the perfect time to upgrade this skill.
Four days after Fang Chang left the valley, he suddenly saw an old man flying through the sky with a twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy tucked under his arm, heading straight for the valley.
Soon after, a heart-wrenching wail erupted from the valley. Fang Chang instinctively found a cave to hide in and didn't dare to go out hunting for several days.
A few more days passed, and the Sunset Forest gradually returned to its usual tranquility. Three figures—two men and a woman—hurriedly entered the forest.
Among the three, the man and woman both had soul power levels exceeding 70, while the slightly disheveled middle-aged man only had 29 levels.