Facing the Abyss as a Demon Cultivator

"Ha, ha."

Leaning against the corner of a wall covered in dust and gravel, Chu Xiu gasped for breath, still shaken to his core.

Recalling that terrifying creature made his scalp tingle.

According to the data on the panel, that monster was the same species as the ordinary black-furred ghouls.

However...it was an elite!

Compared to ordinary monsters, elite monsters usually had a significant increase in all basic attributes, and they might also possess some powerful special abilities.

For example…

【Blood Moon Frenzy】

Chu Xiu focused on the description at the bottom of the panel, then looked up through the window. He noticed that the originally bright and white moon had indeed taken on a scarlet hue at some point.

"That monster's monstrous physique of 20.8 must be the result of absorbing the power of the blood moon. Its base stats shouldn't be that high."

Chu Xiu rubbed his chest, the area where he was hit still aching. Taking off his armor, he saw a large black and purple bruise.

"And that was a long-range attack. If I had been hit by its claws at close range…"

Chu Xiu didn't even dare to think about it.

He glanced at the Yin Ghost, who was recuperating in the Bone Yin Soul Banner, and could sense that its soul body had weakened considerably.

After the Yin Ghost manifested, its physique also reached 12.4, but it was injured after only blocking for a second or two.

Although it wasn't seriously injured, it was enough to reflect the horror of that elite creature.

"It seems that I can't relax my vigilance and take risks just because my strength has slightly increased. There are plenty of creatures in this world that can take my life. I must be more cautious in my future actions."

Chu Xiu thought to himself.

Fortunately, whether it was the injured Yin Ghost or the Bone Armor, repairing them was quite simple. All he needed to do was refine a few more corpses.

With that in mind, Chu Xiu stopped dwelling on it. He returned to the stronghold on the thirty-second floor, finished the remaining venison, replenished his energy, and closed his eyes to rest, seizing the time to recover his stamina.

He didn't open his eyes slowly until the sky began to turn a pale white.

"Hu."

Chu Xiu let out a breath and moved his joints.

His super-strong physique brought about a rapid recovery rate. The fatigue in his muscles had basically disappeared, and his energy level had also recovered by more than half.

He stretched lazily, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"It's time to start a new round of hunting."

"So, what's the plan for today?"

This was his fourth day in the Abyss, and half of the trial time had already passed.

Chu Xiu's first thought was to go down to the basement to hunt.

Although yesterday's battle was fierce, it was only on the upper floors and did not affect the lower floors where the ghoul density was the highest. Not to mention, a large number of ghouls had left the apartment building to hunt, and only a small number remained inside.

This meant that there were more than enough ghouls in the basement.

Moreover, the elite monster he encountered yesterday should be significantly weaker during the day, and might not even be a match for the Yin Ghost. It was the perfect opportunity to kill it.

Thinking of the huge amount of experience and the super high drop rate of the elite monster, Chu Xiu couldn't help but feel his heart race.

However, after hesitating for a while, he still gave up.

"I don't know how many ghouls are in the basement, how many elite monsters there are, or even the terrain and structure."

"To act rashly driven by greed is to be a gambler, not a demonic cultivator."

In the worst-case scenario, if there was a D-rank monster lurking in the basement, Chu Xiu wouldn't even know how he died!

"Today's goal should be to get a clear picture of the surrounding environment, expand the map, and strengthen the Bone Armor to +7!"

The attack of the elite ghoul yesterday had left a huge psychological shadow on Chu Xiu.

But if the Bone Armor was strengthened to +7, not only would its basic attributes be further enhanced, but the second layer of enchantment would also be unlocked! That way, he would have a lot more confidence.

"Anyway, the monsters in the underground garage won't run away. It's right to be steady and sure."

With his mind made up, he didn't delay and quickly took action.

He first went downstairs and retrieved the Bone Blood Devouring Formation that he had left behind last night.

The buff from the sacrificial enhancement was not permanent and had basically disappeared by now. Only a small portion of the power had been transferred to the formation flags, but it had successfully reached a +2 enhancement, and its attributes had further grown.

Chu Xiu was quite satisfied with this.

After putting away the formation flags, he walked downstairs.

But what Chu Xiu didn't know was that as he passed the stairwell, a puppet hidden in a pile of debris flashed a strange light in its pitch-black eyes.

"He's still alive? The commotion yesterday wasn't caused by him, was it? Or could it be that this person is really strong enough to hunt at night and still retreat unscathed?"

In the stronghold's room, Guan Ke rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

She glanced at her side. Yun Lu and Wu Xinyi were still sound asleep.

She opened the door. Shen Zhuo and the others hadn't woken up either.

It was only a little past five o'clock now. It was normal for everyone to sleep in a little, but…

"You're starting to lack a sense of crisis after a little bit of stability?"

Guan Ke shook her head regretfully.

Shen Zhuo and the others didn't realize that there was no such thing as "stability" in the Abyss.

The Abyss was a real world. Unlike the novice area in games, where there were only low-level monsters, it was filled with randomness and uncertainty. It was not impossible for a demon god to suddenly descend and obliterate everything tomorrow.

In such a world, "safety" was only a dynamic concept. It was like sailing against the current. Without the belief of doing everything in one's power to improve oneself, even if one was lucky enough to pass the trial, one would find it difficult to move an inch in the Abyss afterward.

This was also why Guan Ke only regarded this place as a springboard to cover herself.

She knew very well that her companions here would be left far behind by her before long. Shen Zhuo was no exception.

On the other hand, Chu Xiu's actions were more to her liking.

Glancing at Yun Lu and the other girl who were still sleeping soundly, Guan Ke carefully closed the door, trying not to wake them up.

Then, she turned and went downstairs, following the faint but barely discernible footprints on the ground, towards the place where yesterday's battle had taken place.

It didn't take long for her to arrive at the room Chu Xiu had chosen.

It was very clean, and there was not even a noticeable smell of blood. However, the claw marks on the cement floor, the newly broken rubble, and the brick walls all indicated that a fierce battle had taken place here.

"But this… How is this possible?"

Guan Ke widened her eyes in disbelief.

All the blood essence of the corpses had been absorbed and utilized, leaving very few traces at the scene. This basically confirmed that it was due to Chu Xiu's talent.

But… Chu Xiu? A support class with an energy level of only 0.8, was really capable of hunting at night before her, an A-rank?

Guan Ke frowned and carefully observed the room, hoping to find some clues.

Because the corpses had all been absorbed, it was difficult for her to judge how many ghouls Chu Xiu had killed yesterday.

But judging from the commotion, it had to be at least ten.

Suddenly, Guan Ke's eyes narrowed. She saw two scratch marks on the ground that extended all the way to the balcony.

She walked over and immediately saw the broken sofa downstairs. Looking up, a piton firmly hammered into the wall came into view.

Guan Ke, who had almost gotten full marks in her survival course, instantly realized what Chu Xiu had used it for.

"Interesting."

She smiled, and the scar on her face twitched.

"Did he prepare an escape route in advance, so he had the confidence to fight the ghouls?"

"That way, no matter how many he killed, he would be able to retreat calmly. He woke up so early today just to absorb the corpses here, right?"

"Moreover, he used the special terrain to transform it into a suitable battlefield. This could also increase his advantage."

"However, even if it was theoretically feasible, there were many variables in actual practice. One wrong step could cost him his life! For him to be so bold, decisive, and strategic in a relatively stable environment is truly impressive."

Guan Ke couldn't help but praise him in her heart.

She could tell that Chu Xiu was the same kind of person as her, the kind who could survive very well in the Abyss.

The Abyss was not a shortcut for ordinary people to become extraordinary. It was a feast for those greedy and cunning professionals.

In this regard, Guan Ke even admitted that Chu Xiu was much stronger than her.

But then, she shook her head regretfully again.

"What a pity. His talent is too poor."

"Otherwise, I could consider cooperating with him and exploring together in the future."

If Chu Xiu's talent was slightly better, she would definitely extend an olive branch.

However, a D-rank talent and class, and a support class at that… No matter how extraordinary his character was, the gap between him and her would only grow wider and wider, and he would eventually be left far behind by those with top-tier talents.

Shaking her head, Guan Ke convinced herself that she had figured out what had happened yesterday. She no longer dwelled on it and instead leaped nimbly, quickly descending from the stairwell.

A new round of hunting had begun.

(End of chapter)