Unlike the other newly awakened talents and skills, the 'Flexible Blade Transformation' talent had very low experimental costs—it required no living test subjects and wouldn't cause much commotion, so Bai Jie could try it out with peace of mind right now.
With a single thought, the leg blades on all eight of its spider legs slowly retracted, reverting to normal, rounded spider legs.
"If only I could shed the leg hairs too... Well, I just hope they don't stick around after Transformation..."
Another thought flickered—and sharp, upward-facing blades appeared on both the back and underside of the spider's abdomen, then slowly faded away.
As for the other talents and skills, there was no rush to test them—it was afraid that one try and those two humans would 'pass away' on the spot...
After admiring the Status Panel to its satisfaction, Bai Jie turned its attention to its own appearance and body shape. Deploying its psychic power, it quickly gained a clear grasp of the external changes.
Aside from longer legs—its leg span now reaching 170cm—
the biggest change was the appearance, atop its head, of a crescent-moon mark suspended above its eight eyes, no larger than the eyes themselves.
It instantly connected this to its species name.
...
Seeing that the hour was growing late, Bai Jie 'looked' toward the two humans on the slope beneath the tree—Wang Miaoyin and Lin Binbin.
At that moment, neither paid the other any mind; both seemed to be awaiting Lord Bai Zhi's orders.
Of the two, Lin Binbin was seated in meditation, practicing breathing exercises to nourish his vitality. Wang Miaoyin, on the other hand, wandered here and there, not staying idle—roaming all over the mountaintop, though never straying beyond two hundred meters from Bai Jie.
"Human."
Bai Jie sent a telepathic transmission to Wang Miaoyin. "Come here."
Hearing that noble yet captivating voice, Wang Miaoyin's expression tightened. Her eyes held a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Twisting her supple, graceful figure, she hurried over with light and elegant steps to the vicinity of the spider's nest.
"Lord Bai Zhi, you called for me?" Wang Miaoyin said in a soft, delicate voice. She could clearly sense that the demon spider's aura had undergone a tremendous change compared to last night.
The demon spider asked, "How do you feel right now?"
Wang Miaoyin answered earnestly, "Esteemed Lord Bai Zhi, aside from feeling somewhat weak at first, I currently have no discomfort whatsoever. And... I can no longer sense that thing's presence either."
Bai Jie understood: the 'that thing' she referred to was likely the anomaly purple light.
As expected—after it had drained all her spiritual essence, the anomaly purple light had vanished as well.
Just as the demon spider was debating whether to ask if she still craved men,
in that very second, Wang Miaoyin's information panel materialized before its eyes.
[Target]: Wang Miaoyin (Mutant)
[Vitality]: 3
[Body Length]: 174cm
[Status]: Healthy
Bai Jie secretly nodded. The 'Symbiote' designation had disappeared! Her Vitality had also returned to the level of a normal, ordinary human—though of course, her current Vitality value was influenced by the Mutated Venom.
"Can you still use your previous abilities?" This was also a matter of great concern to Bai Jie.
"Yes," Wang Miaoyin replied.
Hm?
This was somewhat unexpected for Bai Jie. After the anomaly purple light organism had vanished, Wang Miaoyin no longer had spiritual essence either—yet she could still use supernatural abilities?
"Though they are much weaker than before, and have many more limitations," Wang Miaoyin added.
Bai Jie silently pondered: Could it be that Wang Miaoyin's body had already been transformed during the period of parasitism? And so, like those from the Secret Keeping Bureau, she now possessed special abilities?
"So then, what do you plan to do next? You've been placed on a wanted list by humanity," the demon spider transmitted darkly.
"I... I now have nowhere to go. I can only hope that Lord Bai Zhi will take me in." As she spoke, Wang Miaoyin directly dropped to one knee, hung her head, and said in a trembling voice.
In truth, Bai Jie had exactly this in mind—of course, to a large extent, because she could still wield supernatural abilities.
Moreover, Wang Miaoyin, like itself, bore a criminal status and could not integrate normally into human society—so there was no fear of her turning traitor.
As for the lives that weighed on Wang Miaoyin's hands—including He Jun's death—Bai Jie had no intention of pursuing the matter. Between He Jun and Wang Miaoyin, it was one willing to strike, the other willing to be struck. Since He Jun had deeply adored Wang Miaoyin and willingly walked into her sweet trap, it was only natural that he should have been prepared to pay the corresponding price.
From another perspective, a large portion of Wang Miaoyin's sins had been caused by the anomaly purple light. Now that the anomaly purple light was eliminated, her sins were proportionally mitigated—all the more so because, for the remaining portion, she had already reaped her retribution.
Namely, being wanted by all of humanity and losing her former life as a university campus beauty.
If Wang Miaoyin could be kept by its side, its roster of Agents would expand. With Wang Miaoyin's supernatural abilities working in concert, it could navigate the future and pursue greater possibilities with far more ease.
"Very well. Woman—tell me your name." The demon spider issued a solemn inquiry.
"Lord Bai Zhi, my name is Wang Miaoyin..." Wang Miaoyin seemed to have a premonition of what was coming. Her tone carried a hint of urgency and delight.
Shall I call you Little Wang then?
Bai Jie silently mocked. At this thought, it nearly laughed out loud.
Back at school, that was exactly how it had called Wang Xiaofan.
Ahem... Bai Jie composed its thoughts and said indifferently, "In that case, you may stay."
"Thank you for taking me in, Lord Bai Zhi!" Wang Miaoyin said joyfully.
This was a mutual, two-way pursuit between Bai Jie and Wang Miaoyin—the former needed more capable Agents, while the latter urgently needed the protection of a powerful being.
"But your strength is still far from sufficient," the demon spider suddenly said.
Wang Miaoyin's expression dimmed at once.
Pausing briefly, the demon spider continued, "Therefore, I have no choice but to advance you some power first."
"What kind of power?"
Wang Miaoyin raised her head, slightly puzzled, and then said thoughtfully, "Is it what you gave me last night..."
As she spoke, her voice grew quieter and quieter. On her pretty face, two blushes actually surfaced.
In an instant, a strand of snow-white silk, accompanied by several specks of pink-purple fluorescent light, slipped into Wang Miaoyin's fragrant shoulder.
"Ah..."
Wang Miaoyin immediately cried out in pain.
"..."
Bai Jie was speechless. Inwardly: Why are you yelling so loudly?! Lin Binbin is probably going to think I'm doing something indecent...
In one go, it bestowed five drops of Mutated Venom upon her. Wang Miaoyin's eyes shut, her head lolled to the side, and she collapsed right there.
After having her spiritual essence drained, Wang Miaoyin's Vitality was far too weak—weaker even than the other two Agents. Bai Jie had no choice but to use this method to impart the Dao and boost her strength.
After more than ten minutes of unconscious slumber, Wang Miaoyin slowly came to.
Bai Jie focused its gaze, and the relevant data materialized before it.
[Target]: Wang Miaoyin (Mutant)
[Identity]: Agent No. 3
[Vitality]: 36
[...]
An Agent identity, huh... the panel updates rather promptly... Bai Jie thought to itself.
"Use your ability... on this avatar of mine," Bai Jie commanded.
"What?"
Wang Miaoyin had barely awoken and hadn't yet shaken off her daze when she widened her beautiful eyes in utter disbelief.
The demon spider concealed itself no longer. It manifested from the lower branches, suspended by spider silk, hanging at a distance of 10 meters before Wang Miaoyin.
This was the first time Wang Miaoyin had seen Lord Bai Zhi's figure so clearly in the daylight. Her mind fell into tremendous shock—not only because of its exaggerated size, but even more so because of the uncanny, demonic, yet dangerously beautiful lines and patterns adorning it.
Only upon seeing the demon spider emerge rather than merely transmitting, and appearing directly before her eyes, did Wang Miaoyin confirm that she had not misheard.