Wow, there are only 20 students in this section. In a classroom that could hold up to 50 students, there were a lot of vacant seats. You would think that since there are only 10 of us here, it would be easy to get to know each other, yet the rest of my fellow classmates were sparsely seated. When the staff measured my soul power upon arriving yesterday, I was assigned to the section belonging to the elites. Due to the number of aspiring soul master students that they have, the spirit hall academy divides its students into 4 sections representing the 4 spirit beast guardians; Baihu, Zhuque, Xuanwu, and Qinglong. Qinglong is supposedly an assembly of students who are fated to go past rank 70, while the 3 sections below are those who are going to be lucky enough to even get past rank 50.

The four beasts are supposed to be equal in strength, I bet they chose Qinglong as the symbol for the elite section just because he’s a dragon. I call spirit beast bias!

Not long after, the teacher arrives. He stands in front, gives us all an appraising look and then instructs us to follow him at the open field. What a guy.

As we were walking outside, a boy with white hair started walking right beside me. “Got any idea what we’re supposed to do?”

We’re going to eat some grass on the field is what I wanted to say but I don’t want to sound like a douche to a potential companion. There are only two reasons for us to get called into an open field, physical exercise or combat. I would much prefer the latter.

“We’re probably going to fight one another.”

“Oh, you’re right. I’m pretty strong though, if we fight you will instantly lose.”

Something inside of me snapped. You dare belittle me? I was about to lash out at him but when I turned to face him he was wearing a benign grin. Subtleties was something I had the trouble of grasping at first, I like to think the year I spent with Mother Ku Kai finally allowed me to get at least a hold of it.

“Right back at ya, if we fight I don’t think you will stand a chance.”

The boy laughed and then said, “That’s good, I think I like you. I am Jia li Bi. I look forward to facing you out there.”

“Likewise, My name is Yang Zhi.”

The sun wasn’t that oppressive because it’s still early in the morning, quite the contrary in fact.

As we were lined up I felt something odd about the purple haired girl right next to me. How do I put this in human terms? It was like sensing a kin. A fellow spider, and a strong one at that. Interesting.

“Now we’re going to test your capabilities, to see if you truly have what it takes to belong in section Qinglong. However, the spirit hall is an organization and you must learn to work well with others even at a young age, pick a partner before we start the test.” The teacher announced with his booming voice.

Partnership? Reminds me of those times when I would stalk other spirit beasts, moving in the shadows alongside them as they were hunting for prey. Once they’ve finished their hunt, they become prey themselves as I swoop in and thrust my legs into their vital parts. 2 meals for the price of one. Heh, I wonder if that counts.

“You, partner with me.” I brazenly stated to the girl next to me. My instincts as a spider were telling me to steer clear from her, but I’m a human now so I’m going to do the exact opposite.

“Quite bold of you, but I’ll allow it. My name is Bi Bi Dong, what’s yours?” Amusement showed on her face as she gave me a soft smile.

++++

First round, Bi Bi Dong and Yang Zhi against An Lei and Jia Li Bi

“An Lei, Rank 9, Attack Type soul master.” “Jia Li Bi, Rank 10, Speed type soul master”

One yellow ring that encircled each of them. Now that they’ve introduced themselves it’s our turn.

“Bi Bi Dong, Rank 15, Control type soul master.” What the hell, Rank 15? I thought I would be the highest ranked among these students! Cool it, you’re partners so need to worry and even if we aren’t I’m sure I could take her on in a fight. “Yang Zhi, Rank 12, Speed type soul master.”

One yellow ring for each of us as well. At least I don’t have to worry about my partner, I just hope Jia Li Bi’s partner can hold out against Bi Bi Dong so I can enjoy my fight without interruption.

As the fight began Jia Li Bi’s hands were covered with twin stingers. Ah, Bee spirit beast, this should be fun. His partner seems to use a tool spirit beast, a spear. How about Bi Bi Dong?

What, She’s using nothing? I know she’s strong but our opponents are also soul masters close to our rank. If she slips up she could be badly hurt. No matter, I need to focus on my own fight.

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From my back, 6 black spider legs manifested. They look similar to what I had as a spirit beast although they pale in comparison to size. Jia Li Bi opened up by thrusting forward both of his stingers, my legs were able to deflect it. I was about to counter attack with a swipe from my legs but he managed to evade by jumping backwards. I couldn’t hit him directly, only a scratch. Speed type soul masters are a pain to deal with.

[1st soul skill : Stinger bullet]

Jia Li Bi pointed both of his stingers towards, launching them as projectiles.

*Clang Clang Clang* A barrage of stingers assaulted the hard carapace of my spider legs that I’m using as a shield. Crap, this kid has a lot of soul power to be able to shoot out that many stingers. Suddenly, I hear a brittle crack from one of my legs. Not good, my spider legs might give out first before he runs out of soul power. My first soul skill is useless with my current rank, at least it can still give me a speed boost.

[1st soul skill activate : Shadow stealth]

With my shield still up, I charged at him and took the fight melee. With my plethora of limbs, Jia Li Bi couldn’t do anything but evade. He tried to jump back again to gain some distance but I’m no fool to let you strike me from a distance again. With my added speed, I quickly catch up to him everytime he attempts to reactivate his soul skill. The numerous grazes given by my legs soon took its effect as he became sluggish. Spider venom. With my current soul level, I don’t think it’s going to be lethal but I doubt that it’s anything but uncomfortable.

“I give up.” Jia Li Bi fell on his knees, gasping due to the mixture of venom and fatigue.

“You are strong, but like I said, no match for me” I bragged but even I was catching my breath. Both of us gave a hearty laugh before I told him to stay still so I could remove the venom from his system.

I hovered my spider legs above his skin so it could absorb the venom. Another ingrained skill that we have that I thought I would never have to use. Honestly, what kind of spider would extract the venom from its prey?

“I never knew you could do that.” It was Bi Bi Dong, watching my venom removal with curiosity. Her opponent was already unconscious. She really defeated her opponent without bringing out her soul weapon. I was so focused on my own fight that I didn’t even notice how her fight went, it doesn’t matter in the end because she’s my partner.

As soon as I was done with the extraction, Bi Bi Dong and I watched our classmates fight.

“How come you didn’t use your soul weapon?”

“I could win without them, I don’t need them yet.” She answered with indifference. This little girl is something else. Damn it, now I’m dying to know what her soul weapon is. It must be some Gigantic Halberd or the legendary Huang long, I have my suspicions that it’s some mega powerful shit.

“Could you at least tell your partner what it is?”

She gave me a sly smile before saying, “I’m not telling you.”

++++

“A round of applause for today’s victors. Bi Bi Dong and Yang Zhi!” the teacher exclaimed.

Glad that’s over with. Every fight I had to put at least some effort while Bi Bi Dong would come out without a scratch. Thank you instinct, from today on I’m going to stay away from her to preserve my pride as the King of sunset forest intact.

“Nevertheless, belonging to an organization you may be, you are still an individual at the end of the day.”

Uh oh, I don’t like what this old man is saying.

“And your skill as an individual is what the spirit hall treasures the most. Bi Bi Dong against Yang Zhi, the victor will be appointed as the head of your class. Step in the middle, both of you.”

The devil take that teacher!

Facing off at the center. Bi Bi Dong’s playful demeanor from before was now replaced with sternness. “Looks like you might be able to see my soul weapon after all, if you can make me.”

My heart was thumping loud from my chest. This sensation was similar to the one I felt when I was being chased by that man-faced spider. Why is it coming from her?

“ I’ll defeat you along with whatever soul weapon you are hiding.”

Stay calm. You are a 100,000 year old transmigrated spirit beast, she’s still just a little girl. She may have a more powerful soul weapon but that can’t gap the battle experience between the two of you. Go all out from the start.

[1st soul skill activate : shadow stealth]

I begin my assault with thrust and swipes but she gracefully weaves in between them. If she doesn’t counter then I can’t find an opening. It’s starting to piss me off how well she’s dodging my attacks.

If this girl thinks she can dodge me all day then she’s in for a rude awakening. Catching slippery prey is my forte.

Thrust attack with my middle right and upper left leg, she strafes to the side. Swipe with my upper right and lower left leg, she twirls to avoid them. I continue analyzing how she reacts to my attacks, slowly calculating what combination I could use to make her slip.

Upper left and middle right swipe, she will jump and twirl to avoid. Now! I spring myself towards her both of my lower legs to deliver a punch straight into her face.

A solid hit. Take that! She fell backwards but she was able to roll on the ground and use the momentum to gain some distance in order to stand back up again.

I mustn’t give her time to reorient! Time to rush in and finish this. Closing in using every ounce of speed I have, I was ready to thrust all of my legs into her and win this fight. I wasn’t going to impale her, just stop mere inches from her skin and have her surrender. If she doesn't surrender, we’ll just cross that bridge when we get there.

*Clang* Right as my legs were mere moments from reaching their goal, they were blocked by another set of spider legs. It was purple colored and its carapace can be considered more regal compared to mine.

Frozen due to the sudden revelation as to what her soul weapon is, a kick to the plexus sent me stumbling backwards.

“You saw my soul weapon, are you now happy?”

Although my King of the sunset forest title was self proclaimed, the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor that she has is the real deal. It’s carapace is considered the thickest among our kind, any physical defense would be considered useless. Qi based defensive techniques are only half as effective when against it. It can summon spiderlings and most of all its venom never heals and corrodes your soul.

Still, I reckon we’re in the same boat, she still doesn’t have her full arsenal due to her current soul rank. Clutching my stomach due the force of her strike, bloody hell did that kick hurt.

Should I surrender now? Screw that.

“Impressive soul weapon, but I’m not planning on going down easily”

I take a stance once again, ready to strike. Being a human is the best, it allows me to swallow down this instinct of wanting to run away and instead boost my fighting spirit. I don’t have the gall necessary to reach rank 100 if I give up from this fight now, that is what my human heart is telling me.

Come, Bi Bi Dong, you may have the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor as your soul weapon, but I am King of Sunset Forest who thrived for a 100,000 years, evading and killing both my fellow spirit beasts and soul masters. I gestured four of my fingers, inviting her to come and charge at me. Show me what you got.

And charge at me she did.

I was once again relentless with my attacks but now it doesn’t faze her. My earlier tactics were now null as she doesn’t need to evade anymore, she can just deflect my swipes and thrust with her own set of spider legs.

She’s making sure her defense as well as her strikes doesn’t have an opening, because if she makes any unnecessary move, I will retaliate. I have to make her slip again.

If calculated moves aren’t working then how about a flurry of slashes and thrusts? Doing just that, Bi Bi Dong was forced to turtle with her spider legs as I continuously barraged her with my strikes.

Standing here, I realize that we were both nearing our limit. Soul Devouring Spider Emperor is a very powerful soul weapon, I’ve surmised that she must have full soul power like me but a soul weapon of that caliber must be hard to maintain at her current soul rank. The victor would be decided soon.

Having had enough of my constant attack, Bi Bi Dong violently spread her spider legs outwards, I was forced to step back to avoid getting hit.

At a distance, we both grin at each other knowing that the next clash would be the last.

Our stand-off didn’t last long, we charged each other at the same time. Judging by the angle of her legs, she’s going to try and use them all to impale me. I will block, leaving only our hands open.

*Bang*

With my legs locked with hers, both of us traded a right fist to the face.

Looks like it’s a…..

The spider leg that was chinked by Jia Li Bi’s stinger attacks earlier shattered. Leaving one of her spider legs to close in on me.

With a smug smile while my fist was still on her face, she knew she had me.

“I surrender.”