Chapter Seventy-Five: Little Bao Strikes

Atop the treetops, Lin Xiaobao observed the unfolding events below and found himself developing a certain fondness for Le Hongcai. Though this fellow could be rather bothersome at times, in moments of crisis he proved unwavering. Yet, watching Si Mengling prepare her ultimate move, Lin Xiaobao couldn’t help but furrow his brow in worry.

The newly emerged Emerald-eyed Demon Spider possessed the strength of a peak second-stage Spirit Path beast, far beyond what the two of them could handle even together.

As Lin Xiaobao pondered whether to intervene, Le Hongcai’s longsword had already struck the spider’s carapace.

Sparks flew, accompanied by a piercing shriek. The demon spider’s eight massive legs, sharp as scythes, swept toward Le Hongcai.

Sensing the change in the air behind him, Le Hongcai was concerned, but he knew he had no choice but to keep the spider occupied. He could not hope for victory, only to avoid disaster. Switching from offense to defense, he fortified himself completely, letting nothing past his guard.

Again and again, the spider’s legs crashed against his sword, leaving Le Hongcai’s arms numb and his feet sunk deep into the earth, buried past the ankles. Yet he gritted his teeth and refused to yield a single step.

Though a beast, the demon spider had developed a measure of intelligence befitting a low-level spirit beast. Sensing Si Mengling readying a powerful assault, a glint of emerald flashed unexpectedly in its eyes.

The attack came without warning, so abruptly that Le Hongcai had no time to prepare. By the time he sensed danger, it was already too late; a wave of dizziness washed over his mind, and his sword slowed.

Though this lasted only an instant, it was all the demon spider needed.

Le Hongcai had barely been holding on; with his mind suddenly compromised, the spider seized the chance. One massive leg pierced through his sword’s defenses and slammed into his chest. He was flung backward, blood spraying through the air as he crashed through five towering trees before finally coming to rest on the ground, his chest heaving as if he had lost consciousness.

Nine-Star Slash!

At that moment, as Le Hongcai was hurled away, Si Mengling’s attack was finally ready. She dared not spare a glance at his condition—she knew this opportunity would not come again.

Her sword flashed again and again, stabbing dozens of times in the blink of an eye. Cold gleams hung suspended like a constellation of icy stars. With a forceful sweep, countless sword-lights linked together to form a vast net that descended upon the demon spider.

Having just used its Soul-capturing Eyes, the spider was somewhat drained. It twisted and turned, trying to evade Si Mengling’s relentless assault, but her spiritual sense had locked onto it. No matter how it dodged, the sword-net pursued it unerringly, as if it had a will of its own.

Something’s wrong! From his perch, Lin Xiaobao saw the spider’s legs suddenly swell to twice their size and was shocked. He might not care if Xu Youyi or Le Hongcai were injured—their deaths would merely bring him a moment’s regret—but as for Si Mengling, he could not allow her to come to harm; otherwise, he would have no way to answer to Lin Tian.

Dragon Emperor’s Heavenly Flight!

With a mighty shout, countless sword-lights rained down from above, blanketing the earth.

Yet Lin Xiaobao’s attack did not strike the spider directly—nor, of course, Si Mengling—but rather the empty ground between them.

At that moment, the demon spider let out a piercing shriek, sending a hail of emerald darts from its eight legs, like a volley of arrows, all aimed at Si Mengling.

The spider’s and Lin Xiaobao’s attacks were almost simultaneous. Si Mengling, her strength nearly exhausted by her previous strike, saw the storm of green arrows coming toward her and felt a wave of despair. Even at her peak she could have dodged only a third; the rest would surely be fatal.

In her hopelessness, she found herself instinctively turning her head toward the tree where Lin Xiaobao was hidden.

This glance surprised her—a vision of Lin Xiaobao in midair, descending like a god, his powerful attack coalescing into a shield of cold light before her.

Hope sparked in Si Mengling’s heart. Swaying, she shot upward with all her remaining strength.

Boom—boom—two thunderous explosions echoed.

One was Si Mengling’s attack striking the demon spider. The cunning creature had curled itself into a ball as soon as it launched its assault, turtle-like. Though her blow was fierce, it left only fissures in the spider’s carapace and buried it in a deep pit.

The other explosion was the collision of Lin Xiaobao’s attack with the spider’s emerald darts. Most of the poisoned projectiles shattered under the onslaught, but some fragments, caught in the chaos of turbulent spiritual power, whirled out of control in every direction.

Dragon’s Dance Sword Flash!

In midair, Lin Xiaobao wielded his sword in a blur, slashing down the poisoned darts as they came. He could spare no thought for Si Mengling now; this was all he could do.

As his feet touched the ground, a feminine cry came from Si Mengling’s direction—she had been struck.

Lin Xiaobao did not rush to her immediately. Instead, he flipped a jade vial toward her. “Take the powder inside!”

Then, in a flash, he dashed toward the pit where the demon spider lay. After unleashing its poison, the spider would be at its weakest. Lin Xiaobao would never let such a chance slip by. Even at its full strength, he could have handled it, but why make things harder for himself?

When he was still three feet from the pit, Lin Xiaobao brought his sword down in a sweeping arc. The cut traced a deep groove toward the pit, ending with a crisp crack as the demon spider was blasted into the air, exposing its vibrant green underbelly.

Unlike its carapace, the spider’s belly was soft and vulnerable—its greatest strength lay in its eyes, but its greatest weakness was there as well. Yet Lin Xiaobao did not target the eyes; he needed them intact for alchemy. Damaging them would greatly diminish their usefulness.

The demon spider seemed to sense the danger. With a deafening screech, it shot several strands of web toward Lin Xiaobao.