Chapter 214: Setting Out for the Tournament

A month later, a group of eight students followed two instructors as they set out for Shrek Academy in the Sun and Moon Empire.

One of the instructors produced a flying soul tool that resembled a magic carpet. It billowed out in the wind, quickly expanding to over five meters in length and more than three meters in width—just large enough to carry ten people.

One after another, they boarded the magic carpet and sat cross-legged in pairs. Fang Chang naturally sat with Zhu Zhu, as they had been walking together the whole time.

The two instructors boarded last, taking positions at the front and back flanks to act as escorts.

At the instructor's command, the carpet slowly rose into the air. Once it reached a height of about a hundred meters, it transformed into a streak of light and shot westward.

The scenery below blurred as it rapidly swept past. On the magic carpet, the expressions of the soul masters varied, but most of their eyes shone with anticipation.

"This your first time going to the Sun and Moon Empire?" Zhu Zhu tilted her head toward Fang Chang and asked.

"More or less," Fang Chang said with a yawn. Ten thousand years ago, he had visited nearly every place in this realm, and the Sun and Moon Continent was no exception.

Back then, though, the Sun and Moon Continent hadn't yet collided with the Douluo Continent. While they already had offensive-type soul tools, they were nowhere near as advanced as now.

At most, their level of technology had just been a bit ahead of Douluo Continent's at the time.

"What do you mean, 'more or less'?" Zhu Zhu clearly wasn't satisfied with his answer. "It's very different over there. They put a lot of value on soul tools and have made far greater advancements in the field than we have."

The Sun and Moon Continent could be considered her home turf, so she explained with ease and confidence.

"They're at least a few decades ahead of the three empires of Douluo Continent in soul tool research. Plus, they have entire legions of soul engineers, which makes them even harder to deal with."

"It's precisely because of their accomplishments in soul tool development that the soul beasts in the Demonic Forest over there are in a passive position—almost entirely on the receiving end of attacks." As she said this, her eyes filled with hatred, suggesting a deeper backstory.

"But the more they do this, the worse the quality of their soul beasts becomes. That also leads to a drop in the quality of soul rings among their soul masters. So now, they've set their sights on the Star Dou Forest to get better soul rings."

Fang Chang nodded. The advancement of human technology would inevitably affect the survival of soul beasts. That was something he had to consider.

However, he wasn't thinking about establishing any kind of "soul beast sanctuary" or campaigning for "beast rights."

Wouldn't it be easier to just mass-produce soul tools specifically for the Spider Clan? Fang Chang's mind raced with ideas. A mechanized spider army—that alone sounded ridiculously cool!

As they chatted, the magic carpet picked up speed. The scenery below turned into streaks of light, no longer discernible.

Several hours passed before they finally reached the outskirts of Sun and Moon City, where the carpet began to slow.

"We're here," Zhu Zhu said, her gaze toward the city tinged with a complex mix of affection and resentment.

Compared to the cities of the Douluo Continent, Sun and Moon City felt far more modern and expansive in both architecture and layout. This impression was even more obvious from the air.

The instructor at the front controlled the carpet to land outside the city. After putting it away, he turned to the group.

"The tournament will begin in a month. We've come early so that you can get used to the local combat styles."

Seeing that it was still early, he added, "For now, feel free to explore the city, but don't go too far. We'll meet back here in two hours."

Hearing this, the students cheered. Having the chance to explore a new city on their own was naturally exciting.

They broke into small groups and headed off in different directions throughout Sun and Moon City. Fang Chang, however, was pulled away by Zhu Zhu, her hand gripping his like a couple out on a date.

"Where are you taking me, Zhu Zhu?" Fang Chang asked, noticing that her direction was different from the others.

"You'll see," she replied mysteriously, pulling him toward a more secluded part of the city.

They passed through a modern-looking avenue, then turned into an older, more rundown alley. But Zhu Zhu didn't stop, walking deeper in like she knew the place well.

Eventually, they reached what looked like a junkyard. Only then did she finally stop.

"We're here." She gently pushed open an iron door and dragged Fang Chang inside.

The space within was large, resembling an abandoned factory or perhaps a hidden slum.

Several pairs of eyes suddenly lit up from the shadows, glaring at the newcomers with hostility—until they saw Zhu Zhu. Only then did the tension ease slightly.

Fang Chang glanced around, and his interest was immediately piqued. Everyone here was a re-cultivated, human-shaped soul beast—and most of them were spider-type soul beasts. Some were even his own descendants.

"Who's this?" A burly man stepped forward into the light. His soul power was nearly at level eighty, making him the second-strongest person here.

"A friend of mine. Don't worry—he's also a re-cultivated soul beast," Zhu Zhu said.

At her words, the man's expression softened. "There aren't many like us left these days," he said with a self-deprecating chuckle, clapping Fang Chang on the shoulder.

At the same time, a device in his hand lit up and scanned Fang Chang's body.

Fang Chang felt a chill on his shoulder, but the man nodded in satisfaction and said to the others, "It's fine—he's one of us."

Zhu Zhu also let out a breath of relief. She had been worried something might go wrong.

At the man's words, the others who had been hiding in the shadows began stepping out and greeting Fang Chang.

Counting himself and Zhu Zhu, there were ten people here. That meant nine were re-cultivated soul beasts with hundred-thousand-year origins.

Even Fang Chang found the number a bit surprising.

"Big bro, what species are you from?" a little girl asked, approaching him.

Though she looked only eight or nine years old, Fang Chang knew she was probably at least several hundred years old.

"Same as you," Fang Chang said fondly, ruffling her hair. Her true form was a Dark Scythe Demon Spider, a direct descendant of him and Xiao Bai.

As he patted her head, the girl's eyes grew puzzled. From this man, she somehow felt a faint, familial sense of warmth. She couldn't help leaning in closer.

It wasn't just her. Among the nine hundred-thousand-year soul beasts here, seven were spider-type beasts. Aside from Zhu Zhu, all of them were Fang Chang's descendants.

So the former glory of the Spider Clan had indeed left a legacy.