Facing the Abyss as a Demon Cultivator

His shout startled everyone at the stronghold nearby.

When they rushed over, they were greeted by a shocking sight. A peculiar ghoul, unlike any they had encountered before, suddenly lunged out, swatting Chu Xiu several meters away with a single claw!

Shen Zhuo was the first to react, bellowing, "Everyone, engage the enemy!"

As his voice reverberated, he let out a roar, unsheathed the double swords from his back, and with a swift dash, arrived before the "ghoul," raising his sword for a deadly strike!

The 1.5-meter long greatsword whistled through the air, aimed squarely at the "ghoul"!

However, the "ghoul" moved with incredible speed, dodging the blow with a sidestep. At the same time, it grabbed the bodies of Li Shan and Wang Long, leaping towards a nearby window!

"Boom!"

Shen Zhuo's greatsword slammed into the wall. He must have activated a skill, for the force of the blow carved a massive crack through the concrete!

Even Chu Xiu was secretly speechless, realizing that combat Professions were not to be underestimated.

Unfortunately, the "ghoul" was even faster. With a shattering of glass, the "ghoul" vanished through the window, leaving behind a scene of carnage, blood, and scattered flesh.

Staring at the empty window, Shen Zhuo's face was grim as he gripped his greatsword tightly. "What just happened?"

Chu Xiu patted his chest, still shaken. "I have no idea. Li Shan and Wang Long said they needed to talk to me and called me over. Before they could explain, that ghoul just appeared!"

"They... they died instantly! If you hadn't arrived in time, I think I would be dead too!"

Chu Xiu's face was pale, clearly still terrified.

Shen Zhuo's expression darkened further upon hearing this. He walked to the window and looked down, but the "ghoul" had vanished without a trace.

Taking the bodies of Wang Long and Li Shan with it.

This horrifying scene drained the color from everyone's faces.

They had always believed the stronghold to be safe, but their perception was shattered in an instant. A ghoul had infiltrated their defenses undetected, killed two of their own, and escaped with ease!

"C-Captain, what do we do now?" Wu Xinyi stammered, her face etched with panic, the domineering aura she displayed when confronting Chu Xiu completely gone.

Fear was evident on Shen Zhuo's face as well. He might have charged in first, but that was merely due to his equipment and the ingrained belief that ghouls were mindless creatures.

He never expected his skill-empowered strike to be so easily dodged!

Even without a direct clash, that brief exchange revealed a terrifying truth: the monster's physical prowess surpassed his own!

However, he knew everyone was looking to him for guidance. He couldn't afford to lose his composure.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Zhuo commanded, "Gao Yuan, investigate where that ghoul came from."

"Guan Ke, I need you to set up more warning traps around the stronghold."

"Zi Ning, increase the concentration of your scent-masking perfume."

"The rest of you, help me reinforce our defenses. Not just the barricade at the stairs, but seal all the windows in every room. Block off any possible entry point!"

"This last night might hold unforeseen dangers. Stay alert, everyone! We just need to hold out until tomorrow, and victory will be ours!"

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison to Shen Zhuo's orders, but fear still lingered in their eyes.

After all, they had just witnessed the deaths of two comrades, without warning or reason. It was impossible not to be afraid.

Once the arrangements were made, Shen Zhuo turned to Chu Xiu. "Are you staying with us tonight? I'm not asking you to join our team, but it's safer to have more people around for support."

Chu Xiu smiled politely. "Thank you, but I have my own plans."

Shen Zhuo didn't press the matter. With a troubled expression, he went to investigate the "ghoul's" trail.

He wouldn't be sleeping peacefully until he figured out how that "ghoul" got in.

Of course, the so-called "ghoul" was merely Chu Xiu's materialized Yin Ghost. Shen Zhuo and the others could search their entire lives and never find a trace of this formless being.

Fortunately, Chu Xiu was a kind soul.

He had prepared everything in advance.

He knew about Wang Long and Li Shan's conversation because he had dispatched a soul-form Yin Ghost to monitor them the moment he sensed something amiss.

Once he decided to act, he had another Yin Ghost deliberately climb up from the balcony below, leaving a trail that Shen Zhuo and the others would soon discover.

Afterward, the stronghold's defenses would likely be reinforced. After a night of panic, the incident would be forgotten.

The deaths of Wang Long and Li Shan would be attributed to a common, unfortunate encounter in the Abyss.

With that in mind, while everyone else was anxious and uneasy, Chu Xiu calmly purchased ten kilograms of meat from Yun Lu. Returning to his room, he ate slowly and methodically, replenishing his energy.

Tonight, he had a big fight ahead of him.

Thanks to Wang Long and Li Shan, Chu Xiu had managed to cultivate the Bloodthirst Heart Refining Technique at the eleventh hour, his strength skyrocketing once more.

He was now, without a doubt, in his most powerful form for a short duration!

It would be a waste not to take advantage of this power and reap the benefits of slaying more monsters.

Li Shan had a point.

"Everything has risks; the key is whether the rewards are worth it."

Now, Chu Xiu had the confidence to face the high-risk night hunt on this final night!

Just as he finished the beast meat and was about to depart, a hushed gasp pierced the night.

Even though the person tried to suppress their voice, Chu Xiu still heard it. It was Wu Xinyi, the short-haired girl who always seemed to have it out for him!

She stood by the window, hands clasped over her mouth, staring down in terror.

"What is it—" Shen Zhuo rushed to Wu Xinyi's side, only to freeze in his tracks. His usually composed face was now etched with shock.

A wave of unease washed over Chu Xiu.

He hurried towards them and looked down, his eyes widening at the sight. At some point, the area surrounding the apartment building had become overrun with ghouls!

No, it wasn't just the immediate vicinity. The streets, the complex, even the wide roads were teeming with them!

Among the horde were numerous mutated ghouls Chu Xiu had never seen before. Even without activating his Ghostly Eyes, he could tell that many were elites!

It was as if some unseen force had summoned them, drawing them out of their nests.

They stood motionless on the empty streets, their gazes fixed on the sky. Chu Xiu followed their line of sight and saw that the pitch-black night sky had taken on a scarlet hue. At the center of this crimson glow hung the Blood Moon, now full and round.

It resembled a mesmerizing yet deadly cursed gemstone.

At that moment, a notification rang in Chu Xiu's ears.

[Full moon has arrived. The Blood Moon Ritual has begun.]