Chapter 1502: Ghost Spider Evolution

Deep within the Myriad Puppet Mountains, on the peak where the Puppet Emperor's Palace stands, tens of thousands of Netherworld Spiders, distinguished by golden patterns on their bodies, have congregated. Surrounding this same peak, countless other Netherworld Spiders, entirely black and devoid of any golden markings, swarm across the terrain.

In the secret realm accessible from the Myriad Puppet Palace, a colossal, entirely golden Netherworld Spider, adorned with black patterns on its back, lies atop a towering, steep peak. This formidable creature has reached the peak of the fourth tier, on the verge of advancing to the fifth.

The secret realm is teeming with Netherworld Spiders, all of them mutated; their bodies gleam gold with black patterns on their backs. Among them, hundreds are already at the fourth tier.

After breaching the seals, the Netherworld Spiders ravenously consumed vast quantities of spiritual resources, including spirit wood, ores, and demonic beasts. As a result, many high-grade third-tier spiders advanced to the fourth tier, effectively turning this secret realm into their entrenched lair.

The secret realm lay in utter devastation, utterly barren.

Within a vast forest of pagoda trees, each towering over a hundred zhang, most trunks bore colossal white cocoons. These cocoons occasionally swayed, hinting at the presence of a living creature within.

With a muffled tear, a white cocoon ripped open, revealing a middle-aged Daoist priest clad in purple robes. His eyes wide with terror, he seemed to have just endured a horrific ordeal.

A torrent of purple flames erupted from his palms, searing through the cocoon and sending the middle-aged Daoist tumbling to the ground.

He gazed, utterly perplexed, at the white cocoons still hanging from the pagoda trees. His storage bag was gone, yet he could still unleash his spiritual techniques.

He had barely taken two steps when his abdomen abruptly began to distend.

With a squelch, two glistening golden claws pierced his chest, while several more erupted from his back, as if something was writhing within him.

The middle-aged Daoist collapsed as an entirely golden Netherworld Spider burst forth from his abdomen. It opened its blood-red maw and began to devour his still-living body.

He watched in horror as one white cocoon after another ruptured, and cultivators struggled out. Yet, before they could take more than a few steps, golden Netherworld Spiders burst from their abdomens, voraciously feeding on their flesh and blood.

The Netherworld Spiders capture cultivators, implanting their eggs within them. Upon hatching, the spiders consume the cultivators' flesh and blood, using their vital essence to refine their own bloodlines and produce even more mutated offspring.

The Daoist's eyes were filled with terror. If all the Netherworld Spiders mutated, the Northern Frontier would be utterly devastated.

A thunderous roar reverberated as a colossal golden light flashed across the sky. An immensely thick bolt of golden lightning descended from above, striking towards a specific direction.

The middle-aged Daoist had no time for further thought as a profound weariness enveloped him, and he closed his eyes.

A massive thundercloud hung suspended in the air, crackling with lightning and rumbling with thunder. Thick golden bolts of lightning descended, striking a high-grade fourth-tier Netherworld Spider. Any cultivator witnessing this spectacle would be astonished, for the spider was undergoing tribulation, seemingly on the verge of advancing to the fifth tier.

As the golden lightning struck the Netherworld Spider, it emitted a painful shriek, and black smoke billowed from its body. Instantly, it extruded countless golden silk threads, encasing itself in a colossal golden cocoon.

Golden lightning bolts repeatedly struck the cocoon, yet it remained perfectly intact.

Inside the Nine Nether Hall, within the Nine Nether Sect.

Shangguan Wei was chairing a meeting with the elders, and everyone present bore an exceptionally grim expression.

They had underestimated the Netherworld Spiders and overestimated their own capabilities. Typically, the chances of spirit beasts or insects mutating are extremely low; even a few mutated specimens would be considered a rarity.

Out of millions of Netherworld Spiders, tens of thousands were found to be mutated, and this number was continuously increasing. This was an ominous development. According to their intelligence, Netherworld Spiders were known to consume spiritual entities, including cultivators and demonic beasts.

"Elder Lei," Shangguan Wei's voice was grim, "have you still not determined the cause of the Netherworld Spiders' mutation? Why are their numbers increasing so rapidly?"

Shangguan Wei spoke with a grim expression. Initially, they had believed their task was simply to eliminate millions of demonic insects, assuming that while the mutated ones were formidable, their numbers were small. However, subsequent investigation revealed a terrifying reality: the population of mutated Netherworld Spiders was steadily increasing. This meant the ten major sects of the Northern Frontier would find it exceedingly difficult to resolve the issue, as it had already surpassed their combined capabilities.

It was well-known that Netherworld Spiders reproduce rapidly. Having been sealed for many years, tens of thousands of third-tier spiders already existed. After consuming vast quantities of spiritual resources, they quickly advanced in rank. At present, over fifty fourth-tier Netherworld Spiders had been identified, and this was considered a conservative estimate.

"The Queen Spider has undergone a complete mutation, evolving into a new type of spirit insect," Lei Yiming explained, his expression troubled. "This would clarify why we see an increasing number of 'mutated' Netherworld Spiders. Strictly speaking, it's not that more spiders are mutating; rather, the Netherworld Spiders are evolving into a distinct species, and all the so-called mutated spiders are descendants of this evolved Queen."

Lei Yiming offered this explanation with a troubled expression, acknowledging its plausibility. He likened it to a python evolving into a flood dragon: if a flood dragon advances to a higher tier, its bloodline strengthens, and its offspring are born as flood dragons. Such instances are rare, however, and he never anticipated that the Netherworld Spiders would possess such an extraordinary ability, not only mutating but also evolving into a completely new type of spirit insect.

Shangguan Wei's expression shifted drastically. This was alarming news; if true, it would likely necessitate the intervention of a Soul Transformation stage cultivator.

"Immediately inform the Three Flames Palace of this development," Shangguan Wei commanded sternly. "We must implore a Soul Transformation stage cultivator to intervene. If they remain idle, the entire Northern Frontier will face ruin."

Shangguan Wei gave the command coldly, understanding that at this critical juncture, only a Soul Transformation stage cultivator could possibly resolve the situation.

"Yes, Sect Master," Lei Yiming replied with a bitter, worried smile. "I suspect Senior Ye from the Three Flames Palace is already en route. With such a grave matter unfolding, he likely couldn't continue his secluded cultivation."

"Hmph, I only fear Senior Ye might not be in the Northern Frontier," Shangguan Wei scoffed. "Those old monsters are elusive, their movements unpredictable. Otherwise, they could have simply eradicated these Netherworld Spiders the moment they erupted from the Myriad Puppet Mountains, instead of waiting until today."

Shangguan Wei dismissed the thought. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she ordered, "Redeploy a portion of our elite disciples from the Northern Frontier and prepare for a full evacuation of the region. Even if the Northern Frontier is reduced to ruins, our sect's legacy must endure."

As long as the elite disciples avoid severe losses, the Nine Nether Sect could simply relocate to another region.

While other regions might pose difficulties, relocating to the Eastern Wilds would be feasible. However, should such a drastic measure become necessary, it would not be just the Nine Nether Sect moving, but all sects and cultivation families across the Northern Frontier.

"Understood, Sect Master."

Lei Yiming and the others acknowledged her command, bowed, and then withdrew.