Chapter Forty-Six: The Venomous Spider, Mother of Ghosts

Since these demonic spider beasts were likely to be a group rather than a single creature, it was unwise to rush in and disturb them. Alone, he could not be certain of his ability to handle a swarm of fifth-tier spiders. He planned to call for a companion, at least to feel more confident.

He was waiting for someone.

He had long ago received a letter from Li Hu, saying he was coming to Cangzhou, but for some reason, he had yet to arrive. Perhaps something had gone wrong on the road? The thought troubled him.

As he pondered, the sound of hooves approached from behind, followed by a horse’s neigh as it slowed to a halt. Li Pingyang turned, spotting a familiar figure who leapt from the saddle and ran straight towards him.

It was Li Hu.

Around Li Hu’s neck hung a rope, each end tied to an old hen, and in each hand he carried a tortoise. Three perch were fastened to his waist with string.

Hearing that Li Gou Dan’s new shop was opening, Li Hu had specially sent his wife to the market to pick out two large turtles and Li Pingyang’s favorite perch, never stingy when it came to his brothers.

The two embraced, overwhelmed with emotion, and only after a long moment did they separate. Li Pingyang glanced at Li Hu’s belly, noticing his frame was leaner, more robust than before.

Since the last time, when Li Hu was injured by the sword energy of fifth-grade master Xie Changfeng while protecting Li Pingyang, Li Hu had become determined to better himself, believing he had been too weak. Once his wounds healed, he began to train relentlessly, pushing himself to exhaustion each day.

Li Pingyang was growing stronger, and Li Hu refused to lag behind.

Now, Li Hu could skillfully wield true energy, imbuing it into the blade to deliver explosive, devastating attacks.

Through the system, Li Pingyang researched fifth-tier demonic beasts, particularly the Ghost Mother Venom Spider, and methods to counter it.

The Ghost Mother Venom Spider was a mutated demon spider, innately cold and fearful of heat. The most effective weapon against it was fire.

Its venom was terrifying—just a single drop could melt iron. If sprayed, one’s body would dissolve into a pool of thick liquid instantly, with no time to resist.

Fortunately, Li Pingyang had the system at his disposal. In the system’s clothing shop, he exchanged system coins for three sets of corrosion-resistant clothing and three flame throwers.

“Gou Dan, what does this button do?”

“Don’t press it!”

Li Hu grabbed the gun and, without waiting for Li Pingyang’s instructions, began fiddling with it himself. Seeing Li Hu press the red button, Li Pingyang hurried to intervene, but it was too late.

A burst of flame shot out, passing over Li Hu’s head. Luckily, Li Pingyang swiftly raised the muzzle, directing the fire upward, scorching a tree outside the courtyard.

Li Hu broke out in a cold sweat, shocked by the weapon’s power, and quickly stowed it away. After a brief pause and packing a small amount of food, the three set out.

Though the venom spiders were fierce, they were blind, highly nearsighted. They relied on webs or the hairs on their bodies to sense prey, then attack.

Li Pingyang planned a night raid; under cover of darkness, their vision would be even worse, allowing the group to hide and pick them off one by one.

Little Dragonfly led the way, with Li Hu and Li Pingyang flanking left and right. Unsure which direction the creature might attack from, they stayed vigilant.

After traveling all day, they finally reached a forest near the village before nightfall.

Upon entering the forest, the ground was covered in something white. From afar, they had assumed it was snow—but it was not.

From the forest entrance, white spider silk blanketed the ground, sticky as glue, making walking arduous.

Between the trees, webs of various sizes were strung, incredibly resilient—Li Hu had to hack several times with his blade to cut through.

High in the trees hung elongated, white cocoons wrapped in webs. From some, bright red liquid occasionally seeped.

“What do you think is inside?” Li Hu asked Li Pingyang, gazing at the white cocoon. Li Pingyang shook his head, but the shape suggested it was human.

Looking up, he saw the distant treetops densely packed with cocoons—so many it was terrifying. If they all contained people, how many corpses would that be?

“There’s one that fell down,” Little Dragonfly exclaimed, pointing beneath a tree where a cocoon had dropped. The group hurried over.

The outer layer was torn open, revealing a large hole. Peering inside, they found a man wrapped within.

He was barely alive, struggling to breathe. Most of his body had been dissolved into liquid by a digestive enzyme secreted by the spider.

His eyes were wide with terror, clearly wanting to speak, but incapable of making a sound.

At that moment, Li Hu felt something drip onto his face. Wiping it off, he found the smell vile—no better than excrement.

Looking up, Li Hu’s expression froze, struck dumb with fear. Little Dragonfly also looked up, equally horrified, unable to utter a sound.

Li Pingyang, puzzled, finally glanced upward.

A gigantic spider was suspended right above them. Just one of its legs was far larger than any of their bodies, and its appearance was terrifying.

Atop its head was a massive red eye, now open and staring down at them. The liquid that had dripped moments ago was its saliva.

This spider had eight thick, hairy legs, each covered in dense, disgusting hairs.

Unlike ordinary spiders, this one had two enormous fangs protruding from its mouth, sharp as blades, capable of shredding anything.

Without doubt, this monstrous creature was the mutated demon beast they sought—the Ghost Mother Venom Spider.

Unable to contain himself, Li Hu raised the gun and pulled the trigger at the spider. Flames spewed forth, forcing the spider to retreat—it truly feared fire.

Li Hu grew overconfident.

He fancied himself invincible with the flamethrower, chasing the spider and burning it relentlessly. Suddenly, the flame began to weaken.

A single canister of fuel was quickly depleted, but fortunately, he carried several more.

The giant spider climbed upward along its web, and when it realized the flames couldn’t reach it, it turned and spat a bundle of silk at Li Hu.

With a sharp whoosh, the fuel bottle in Li Hu’s hand was struck and rolled aside as he reloaded.

Another strand of silk flew, knocking the gun from his hand and sticking it to a tree behind.

Without a weapon, the spider’s massive abdomen twitched, releasing a thin, tough strand of silk and sliding down from above.

Li Hu drew his broadsword from his back, channeling true energy into the blade, and swung at the giant spider. Unexpectedly, it blocked the blow with its fangs.

The sword energy he had unleashed merely shaved off a few hairs from its leg. Was it really that monstrous?