Chapter 36: Danger Signals

In a short while, to satisfy everyone's curiosity, Ji Chang had the wasps carry all of them to the back of the giant spider, personally experiencing the immense and majestic body of the spider.

After the incident with the spider, they deeply understood their own weak strength. If it weren't for Ji Chang controlling the spider at the critical moment, they would have faced total annihilation...

In their hearts, gratitude and admiration for Ji Chang surged once again.

Soon after, Ji Chang led everyone down from the spider's back. Following Ji Chang's proposal, they gathered around for a battle summary.

It was called a battle summary, but in reality, what they just experienced couldn't be considered a true battle; it could only be called a retreat...

But no matter what, their collective panic was their biggest problem right now, in Ji Chang's view. No matter what they faced, even if they couldn't win, they should at least ensure their survival.

As the ancients said, "If the green hills are preserved, there will be no shortage of firewood." They were about to explore not only the courtyard but also the streets outside the courtyard, the village, the fields beyond the village, the entire suburbs, and even the city!

In the days to come, they would only face more challenges.

Prior to this, Ji Chang first formulated an escape plan for them in times of danger. Of course, Ji Chang understood that this wouldn't be accomplished with just a few words; it would require more practice, more battles, to grow through these trials.

This was also the initial intention behind Ji Chang's desire to explore the courtyard. After all, they couldn't stay holed up in this house forever.

Whether it was the rats from before or the spiders now, it indicated that staying within the house wasn't an absolute guarantee of safety.

Disaster had already struck, sparing no one and leaving no room for exemption. They had to quickly readapt to this world, to reacquaint themselves with it!

After everyone understood Ji Chang's thoughts, they nodded in agreement.

In addition, Ji Chang shared with them the conclusions he had reached about the levels of spiritual power based on his own experiences. Upon receiving this news, everyone fell into contemplation.

"Ji-ge, with my Green Mist and the added transformation to the withered yellow mist, my spiritual power should be at the second level!"

"My flames... I think I'm still below the second level."

"I've upgraded my wings twice; I can consider myself at the second level of spiritual power!"

"My shockwave, first-level spiritual power, but I feel I'm close to breaking through the upper limit."

"I... I should also be at the second level of ice."

"What about me?"

Listening to everyone's descriptions of their transcendent abilities, Huang Mang tilted his head and pondered.

"You should be around two and a half levels!" Ji Chang thought for a moment and said.

Recalling Huang Mang's transformations from initially becoming a cement body, then a metallic body, to now being able to combine attributes of both, Ji Chang regarded these as minor breakthroughs, not yet crossing the threshold of a higher spiritual power level.

As for Huang Mang's ability to turn wood into a wooden body, it was still beneath the metallic body. Ji Chang even believed that Huang Mang, at this stage, could likely transform into materials weaker than iron.

Of course, Ji Chang wasn't making casual judgments. After commanding the spider and attaining the fourth level of spiritual power, he could now subtly observe the fluctuating auras of everyone present.

These fluctuations were the embodiment of spiritual power.

In fact, even before, Ji Chang could vaguely sense the strength of everyone's aura fluctuations. However, it was quite vague.

After gaining control of the spider, this sensation became much clearer to Ji Chang.

Under these circumstances, Dong Xuan and Zhou Jun's aura fluctuations were the lowest. Chen Lingxue, Wang Lingling, and Zheng Haiyu had fairly similar aura fluctuations, with Chen Lingxue being slightly higher than the other two.

Finally, Huang Mang's aura fluctuations far surpassed everyone else. Yet, in Ji Chang's eyes, it seemed his spiritual power wasn't at the level of his own three-layer spiritual power from before.

So Ji Chang believed Huang Mang to be at the level of two and a half in terms of spiritual power.

With Ji Chang's corresponding understanding of spiritual power levels, everyone gained a clearer self-assessment of their own spiritual power.

After finishing their meal, they began enhancing their spiritual power according to their individual circumstances while simultaneously practicing the escape methods Ji Chang had previously taught them...

Two days later, in the early morning hours, the newborn sun earnestly cast its warmth upon the world. The courtyard was tranquil, but at the water tap, a fierce battle was taking place.

A grasshopper was desperately fleeing. However, before it could flex its robust hind legs to jump, a figure descended from the sky and crashed into it.

This figure gleamed with a metallic luster in the sunlight. This person was Huang Mang.

Under Huang Mang's iron fist, the grasshopper's head was instantly crushed. A 'splat' sound echoed as a rich green liquid drenched Huang Mang.

"Uh, Ji-ge... I got sprayed with green goo!" Witnessing this, Huang Mang couldn't help but raise his hands in exasperation towards Ji Chang, who was standing atop the spider in the distance.

Meanwhile, above Huang Mang's head, Wang Lingling fluttered her wings and pouted, "Mang-ge, if you keep doing this, I won't talk to you anymore!"

It was Wang Lingling and Huang Mang who had just cooperated to hunt down the grasshopper. Just as Huang Mang was inspecting his spoils, another grasshopper leaped towards him.

Upon closer examination, this grasshopper's wings were flickering with a hint of flames. However, right as the grasshopper was about to land, an invisible shockwave suddenly struck. Under this impact, the grasshopper trembled violently and crashed to the ground.

In the next moment, an ice spike nearly as thick as the grasshopper's abdomen was thrust down like a sword, piercing the insect's body and embedding itself into the soil.

"Hey hey, with you guys doing this, how are we supposed to eat the grasshopper's hind legs?"

Observing the rather pitiful remains of the grasshopper, Huang Mang couldn't help but mutter with a wry smile.

But even before Huang Mang finished speaking, another grasshopper flew over. However, this one dissolved into a splash of green liquid mid-air, sprinkling down onto the ground.

"Um... Captain, what's with this..."

Seeing the completely dissolved grasshopper, Huang Mang's mouth twitched.

Soon after, Chen Lingxue emerged somewhat embarrassedly from the side.

"Excellent!"

Just as everyone gathered around, Ji Chang leapt from the spider's back, landing gracefully on the ground. He looked at their performances with approval.

Early that morning, they had come to the courtyard and started practicing combat against the grasshoppers, beginning with the easiest ones.

Of course, the main reason was that they had exhausted their food supplies and found the grasshopper legs to be quite delicious.

Under these circumstances, Ji Chang rode the spider into the thick grass, chasing out three grasshoppers and allowing everyone to practice their skills.

Upon hearing Ji Chang's praise, smiles bloomed on everyone's faces. Their strengths had significantly improved over the past two days. The recent battle against the three grasshoppers was a testament to that.

However, just as they were preparing to head back with their spoils, Ji Chang suddenly sensed a danger signal from the wasps that had been responsible for alerting them to threats.

At the moment he received this signal, Ji Chang couldn't help but be surprised.