Seeing the blood-colored tornado drilling towards him and shredding through the sticky webbing like paper, Qian Fusha naturally wasn't foolish enough to stand still to take that hit head-on.
Evade was the only option! But... that alone wasn't the solution.
A plan formed in Qian Fusha's mind, and he quickly put it into action!
Dash straight to the side! Cut a sharp angle from the tornado's course!
This type of perpendicular movement was enough to evade most fixed-target spells!
Except… this Hurricane Fang wasn't a simple fixed-target, ranged spell! It was a combination of elemental power with the martial artist's body!
Sidestepping out of the way should've been simple, but the problem is that the controller actually drove the cyclone to turn and chase after him like a starving wolf!
With spiritual sense locking his position down, no matter how far or fast he ran, sooner or later, that disaster-in-the-making will catch up!
Which was… fine because this was well within Qian Fusha's plan.
Yes, the other can chase, but compared to a straight-line path, every turn still has a fraction of a delay.
And a sharp turn can buy himself that extra window of time! That was his goal!
With that extra time, he can...
Step! Step! Step! Squish! Squish! Squish!
One heartbeat Qian Fusha was sprinting on flat ground—
The next, he was scaling up the thick web pillar that served as the anchor from the ground to the net above!
Obviously, Qian Fusha didn't set up this elaborate layout just to play hide-and-seek and slow down his opponent!
This spider's lair was a stage that lets him go from a grounded battlefield to the third-dimension: the air!
This was the best stage for dealing with undodgeable martial skills, especially since the other challengers are restricted by the flight ban!
The best part? This path was only available to a spider Gu cultivator like him! Others following in his footsteps will only get stuck in a sticky situation!
But that's only if... they dare to follow him up on foot.
Jin Bailiang… didn't even need to do that!
Once the cyclone caught the tail under Qian Fusha, it sharply veered upward and continued roaring straight towards the spider hanging upside-down on the web above!
On its way up, the cyclone's power didn't seem to be lost at all and the shrieking wind blades sliced out all over, shredding all the web pillars nearby bottom-up!
Even the massive net above sagged down as if the whole ceiling was getting sucked into the maelstrom's maw!
It seemed in the next instant, the lonely spider will get shredded into minced meat!
Just when there seemed to be no escape, the metal-black lances reappeared!
Six lances immediately paired up to form the corners of a triangular array...
Qian Fusha's hands blurred into seal after seal and a hasty yet steady chant overwrote the storm's howl!
"Take my spears as the trinity stars... leverage the anchors of heavens to restrict the five elements! Trinity Pillars Array!"
One moment, the cyclone was spinning at max power, the next, a triangular light barrier appeared in the path of the maelstrom!
Fwoom! The cyclone slammed into the barrier and ripples exploded across the glowing barrier, but... all the murderous wind got stopped on the other side!
But Jin Bailiang wasn't going to give up so easily!
Borrowing the remaining momentum and breath from his dying cyclone, he blasted up and... broke through the glass ceiling!
Bloody claws slashed at his enemy and their owner's howl split the air. "DIE FOR ME!"
But how could it be so easy to break through the defense of a being with more than eight limbs!
Even though Qian Fusha was hanging upside-down by his own legs and used six legs to establish a barrier, there were still two spider legs free!
Those immediately went to precisely intercept the claws!
But just when claws were about to meet legs…
Both wolf claws actually lost their forms, dissolving into blood that passed right through the defending legs!
The moment the blood bypassed the defense, they quickly reshaped into death's talons that were ready to tear into the flesh of the spider above!
But just when those claws were a hair's breath away from leaving a scratch, a leg whipped out and with one flick, Jin Bailiang went from flying up to flying down!
Wham!
Jin Bailiang smashed into the ground hard and bounced up like a ragdoll, coughing up a mouthful of blood!
All the wind got slapped out from him while his broken bones and dislodged ribs even made him struggle to gasp for breath!
When gravity dragged him back down once more, a web net flew down right on cue to glue his body to the floor!
All he could do was lay there motionlessly and stare up at the spider slowly creeping down a silky web.
Soon, the spider demon landed next to the prey and lorded above him with ominous pressure like an Asura.
The killing intent buffeted Jin Bailiang and he didn't even dare to breathe!
Just when he thought he'll be going to meet his uncle in the next breath, the spider legs folded up and the Asura faded away like it never existed.
Seeing Qian Fusha standing there dusting off his robe and showing no signs of attacking further, Jin Bailiang was hit by confusion. "What… what are you doing?!"
Qian Fusha looked at the man like looking at an ant. "It's already over. There's no need to waste more energy."
Jin Bailiang felt his ego take a hit and he immediately growled. "Who are you looking down on?! I don't need your nauseating pity!"
"I suggest you don't waste the life your uncle earned for you... just to benefit others."
After saying that, Qian Fusha turned and walked away.
"Wha—Stop right there!" Jin Bailiang shakily tried pushing himself up, only to flop back down.
Watching the back getting farther and farther away, he could only howl to the skies in agony with tears running down his face.
Back in Private Box 17.
Watching the man venting his emotions to the heavens, Qian Bage had a gloating look on his face.
"Ouhaha. Only one slap and he's on knees and can't get up. Cultivation-wise, he might be a genius more talented than his uncle, but still too young and inexperienced combat-wise, ou."
"The higher you climb, the harder the fall. Doesn't he understand? And after today… I bet he'll probably be nursing a heart demon for decades to come, ouhahaha."
By Merlin's beard! This... Bubai was a little surprised. Sounds like everything that happened was calculated?
Borrow the power of inner demon to ruin others? Is this how real cultivator masterminds duel?
Honestly, quite a cliché yet useful strategy. But…
A genius-turned-avenger crying to the heavens?
Yo… if some special rain effect gets added, isn't this how those protagonist or villain arcs start?!
Bubai felt like he was thinking too much, but he still frowned upon this outcome. "When cutting grass, why not get rid of the roots as well?"
Qian Bage chuckled and wagged his finger.
"Ou, Brother Bai, that's the way out there in the wilds, but here? Even if we wanted to, do you think the Jin Clan will stand idly by after already suffering so much loss? Besides..."
"This blood wolf's age is still there, ou. A mid-stage foundation cultivator that can already manifest his innate blood weapon. Dual-attribute spiritual roots of wind and water…"
"Even the sect won't just sit by and watch a young dual-element genius of this level die for no good reason, ou."
"I see..." That reminded Bubai once again.
This was not the wilderness. This was an arena under the watch of the entire sect!
It's just a competition to weed out the useless!
But for the talented, there will always be some form of protection.
That's the very reason why Bubai showed his own talent on stage for all to see!
Since he could enjoy this protection, the same logic should extend to others… just like the Ge Tianqi fan boy from his earlier fight and the poor avenger bawling for the top drama award below.
Of course, protection is protection, but accidents could still happen and it's not always safe. Nobody can complain even if somebody gets killed!
But there were times when a blade sheathed earned more than simply cutting off a life.
By sparing this blood wolf, the spiderman could at least conserve some energy and avoid dealing with any trumps cards the other might use in a desperate do-or-die deathfight.
Like a Blood Sage Explosion Pill or similar forbidden secret arts.
After all, once that happened, it was just a pure blood loss for both sides, especially since the other can just cry surrender anytime and gain protection from above.
That's probably why this second brother chose this "I spared you" strat because this was the ultimate attack to a cultivator's heart!
It should be nigh impossible to take the fight out of an angry avenger, but sometimes, hitting the heart will do the trick.
And sure enough—after Jin Bailiang emptied his rage into the sky and reason returned to his bloodshot eyes, the wolf finally lowered his head, forfeited the torch, and got ferried out on a stretcher.
He can't achieve revenge but... maybe somebody else could! And that somebody was…
Clink… rattle… rattle… clink…
Scraping sound of chains came from the tunnel and a gaunt man stepped out from the darkness while dragging a blood-stained scythe attached to chains.
The man looked like a lunatic just out from prison and his amused gaze fell on the web-weaver making last minute repairs on his lair.
"Zehahaha! We meet again... spider freak!"
Qian Fusha looked over and his solemn face darkened. "Jin... Tiemo."
Back in the box, Qian Bage tightened his grips on his armrest and his face fell.
"Ou, not good... it's this bloodthirsty maniac again. This bloody outlaw has been Lao Er's long-term thorn for the past decade! And..."
"Every time they fight, it's hard to tell who comes out on top. But this year… Lao Er has been worn thin by all those fights. Ouu, I'm afraid…"
Everything... points to a disastrous end!