Facing the Abyss as a Demon Cultivator

"A level 9 elite!"

Chu Xiu stared at the panel, his expression grave.

As expected of an elite monster. Compared to the ordinary Type 008 ghoul, not only were its physical attributes significantly enhanced, but it also possessed additional skills, traits, and talents!

The newly added skills and traits were marked with question marks. Chu Xiu couldn't determine their specifics, but he was certain they were high-level.

The new talent was even more outrageous. It directly increased its energy level by 35.0! It could even use this energy to heal itself!

Chu Xiu guessed that the giant cyst on the creature's back was a manifestation of this talent.

This made the already durable and tenacious Type 008 ghoul even more difficult to kill!

Not to mention, under the blood moon's blessing, its physique had reached a terrifying 36.6!

"What a terrifying creature," Chu Xiu thought, alarmed.

He now had two strategies. The first was to wait for the ghouls to wear each other down before swooping in to claim the spoils. The second was to join the battle immediately.

The former was undoubtedly safer, but he would only gain experience and loot from a single monster.

Worse, if the elite ghoul lost, he would suffer a significant loss, essentially letting a level 9 elite monster slip through his fingers.

However, joining the battle immediately might provoke the four ghouls, already engaged in a struggle, to turn on him as a common enemy!

"Three level 8 ghouls, plus a level 9 elite!"

Even though all three were injured, they still posed a significant threat to Chu Xiu!

Although he had effortlessly dealt with a single Type 008 ghoul before, it was only because his superior speed made him untouchable. In terms of raw strength, he was far inferior.

With just one more opponent, Chu Xiu's agility advantage would vanish. Even with his recent level up, he couldn't guarantee a flawless victory against three ghouls.

Let alone with a level 9 elite in the mix!

With a physique of 36.6, Chu Xiu's Yin Ghosts would likely die from a single blow! Even with his +7 Energy-Absorbing Heavy Armor, getting hit would still be excruciating!

"So which one should I choose?"

As Chu Xiu hesitated, the elite monster suddenly let out a sharp roar. It raised its pendulum-like right arm, and to Chu Xiu's astonishment, the exoskeletal armor on the massive hammer suddenly split open like petals. A sharp bone spur shot out with lightning speed!

The bone spur gleamed with a sharp, metallic sheen. Its tail was connected to a retractable bony structure, somewhat similar to Chu Xiu's retractable tail spike equipment, but with a thicker, longer, and sharper tip. The exoskeleton responsible for retraction was also sturdier!

Caught off guard, the first Heavy Armored Ghoul had its head pierced by the bone spur. The elite ghoul flicked its right arm, retracting the bone spur like a whip and smashing it onto the second Heavy Armored Ghoul!

"Bang!"

The immense force sent the ghoul staggering. The elite ghoul opened its maw, sinking its teeth into the ghoul's neck!

Under its terrifying bite force, the ghoul's throat bones shattered instantly, blood splattering everywhere. Its head was ripped clean off!

The third ghoul met the same fate. Left alone, it was brutally slaughtered without any chance to fight back!

In the blink of an eye, all three level 8 ghouls were eliminated!

"Looks like I don't have to agonize over my choices."

Chu Xiu chuckled. However, just as he was about to approach and reap the rewards, a sudden change occurred!

The elite ghoul glanced at Chu Xiu, a hint of disdain flashing in its eyes, as if it didn't consider him a threat at all. Then, it let out a furious roar, and countless blood-red lines emerged from the bodies of several nearby Heavy Armored Ghouls, surging into its own!

Nourished by the red lines, the elite ghoul's cells began to divide rapidly, the flesh beneath its skin expanding swiftly. Like a snake shedding its skin, layers of skin peeled off its body to accommodate its rapidly growing muscles!

With each shedding, the ghoul's body grew larger!

At the same time, Chu Xiu could clearly sense the ghoul's aura skyrocketing in his Blood Moon perception!!!

Chu Xiu's eyes widened in shock. "Could it be... This monster is evolving?!"

The Blood Moon Ritual had a peculiar rule: during the ritual, these abyssal creatures could gain experience and level up by killing each other, just like the Awakened!

This elite ghoul was already at level 9 of the F-rank. If it leveled up again, wouldn't it reach the D-rank?!

Chu Xiu felt a surge of heat coursing through his veins. He could feel the adrenaline rapidly being secreted in his body, every cell buzzing with excitement.

A D-rank elite!

More precisely, a wounded D-rank elite, not in its prime, unfamiliar with its newfound power, and offering double experience points!

The safest course of action was to strike while it was evolving and kill it before it could fully transform!

But Chu Xiu saw another possibility.

To kill it after it evolved!

This was a D-rank elite!

The experience it offered would be equivalent to hundreds of ordinary ghouls! With the high drop rate of the Awakening Trial, there was a high chance of it dropping high-level items!

Moreover, Chu Xiu could use this opportunity to complete his second challenge task and further increase his overall score in the Awakening Trial!

Considering the potential benefits, the latter option outweighed the former by several folds!

Of course, the risks were also immense!

So, should he choose stability or take a gamble?

Chu Xiu realized he was facing another crucial decision.

"Excessive caution is cowardice, while blind risk-taking is recklessness! What I need to do is calculate! Assess the risks and rewards!"

Chu Xiu licked his dry lips, his mind racing. In a split second, countless pieces of information surfaced and combined in his head!

"Someone online shared data that a level 9 F-rank Warrior (C) has a physique of 18.1, which increases to 25.7 after breaking through to D-rank!"

"Adding in the class bonus, new skills, and traits, its overall strength should increase by two to three times!"

"I have five similar data points for reference, all with similar growth rates! Considering the mortality rate and difficulty rating of F-rank and D-rank dungeons, it can be inferred that the monster's evolution won't deviate too far from this pattern!"

"Furthermore, it will heal its injuries during the evolution process. However, this is merely a side effect of its life level increasing, not actual healing. Even considering the special circumstances of the Blood Moon Ritual, the effect won't be too significant!"

Chu Xiu narrowed his eyes. Under the effect of his Ghostly Eyes, he observed every minute change in the elite ghoul's body. As it shed its skin layer by layer, the scratches on its surface disappeared, but the deeper wounds in its flesh remained! Although some were covered by newly formed muscle, the injuries themselves hadn't vanished!

The bone injuries were even more apparent. The energy-storing cyst on its back, though enlarged, remained deflated, showing no signs of replenishment.

These observations indicated that the elite ghoul's energy expenditure was still enormous!

Under these circumstances...

Chu Xiu quickly took stock of his resources, a look of both ruthlessness and excitement flashing in his eyes.

"I can kill it!"

With newfound determination, Chu Xiu banished all hesitation. He waved the Bone Yin Soul Banner in his hand, and five Yin Ghosts surged out, taking up positions in the five corners of the basement. At the same time, the Bone Blood Devouring Formation appeared beneath his feet!

Next, he took out the poison he had obtained from killing Li Shan and applied it to his bone spear and retractable tail spike.

But that wasn't all!

"Karma points, enhance Shadowstep!"

Instantly, the over eight hundred Karma points that Chu Xiu had painstakingly accumulated began to deplete at an alarming rate!

At the same time, countless experiences, insights, and understandings flooded his mind. Muscle memory blossomed within him, as if he had spent countless hours in another dimension, practicing this secret technique thousands of times!

[Consumed 714 Karma points. Shadowstep proficiency increased to Grand Completion!]