Facing the Abyss as a Demon Cultivator

“Hmph, not bad.”

Chu Xiu sneered. He executed the Phantom Steps once more, the immense energy burst forcibly breaking free from the Earthbound Spirit’s restraints. At the same time, he waved the Yin Soul Banner again!

The Elite Yin Ghost was momentarily suppressed. Seizing this opportunity, Chu Xiu lightly tapped the nearby corpses, causing them to melt and transform into streams of silvery-white liquid that flowed into the Yin Soul Banner.

Invigorated by the energy, the cracks on the long pole of the Yin Soul Banner immediately began to mend. The Yin Ghost, just freed from the enchantment's control, was instantly pinned to the ground by an even more powerful force! It howled in agony!

If Chu Xiu hadn't come prepared, how could he have allowed this creature to grow stronger?

With the activation of his [Perfect Talent], the spiritual light flickering on the Yin Soul Banner grew increasingly dazzling. As the corpse of the D-rank Ghoul merged into it, the banner underwent a dramatic transformation!

The pole became as white as jade, the banner itself covered in intricate enchantments, and an aura of profound mystery emanated from it.

The corpses of one D-rank Elite and several high-rank Ghouls had directly enhanced this magical artifact to +10!

Chu Xiu gently waved the banner. This time, the Elite Yin Ghost, devoid of any resistance, was obediently withdrawn into the banner.

To be honest, the Yin Ghost's ferocity had exceeded Chu Xiu's expectations. He had originally planned to save these corpses to upgrade his Bone Armor.

“Forget it, I can upgrade the Bone Armor later. It's not easy to find such a promising Yin Ghost.”

Overall, this was undoubtedly a huge gain!

As expected, risk and reward were always balanced. It could be said that Chu Xiu had struck it rich just before the trial ended.

After meticulously organizing all his spoils, only five minutes remained until the end of the Blood Moon Ritual. He had no intention of continuing to hunt.

The nearby Ghouls had all been eliminated, and venturing into unfamiliar territory was too risky. Who knew what terrifying creatures were out there hunting now?

He didn't want to die right before the finish line.

Putting away all his equipment, Chu Xiu contentedly returned to the stronghold.

The others were hiding in their rooms. Seeing him return, they immediately surrounded him with delight, eagerly inquiring about his experience.

Some brought him water to wash away the filth, some sliced roasted venison to replenish his energy, and Xu Hang thoughtfully prepared a set of fitting undergarments for him to change into.

They couldn't offer much help in battle, but they could certainly make him more comfortable.

Chu Xiu felt a little uncomfortable with their attentiveness but accepted it with a clear conscience.

He felt no guilt about deceiving them. He even put on a mask of false camaraderie, taking the opportunity to raise his friendliness level with everyone in the stronghold.

Regardless of whether it would be useful in the future, there was no conflict of interest now, so he might as well take advantage of the situation.

In just a few minutes, everyone's goodwill towards him increased even further.

Just as Chu Xiu was getting into the swing of things, a crisp notification sound suddenly rang in his ears.

[Blood Moon Ritual has ended.]

[Your final rank is: 754]

“Oh?” His eyes lit up with joy. Relying on the points from the D-rank Elite, he had successfully squeezed into the top 1000!

This made him secretly sigh in relief that his previous decision was correct. If he had only killed an F-rank Elite Ghoul, he most likely wouldn't have made it into the top 1000.

The others also received the notification.

Shen Zhuo shook his head with regret. "I'm only ranked over three thousand. It seems there are quite a few powerful monsters in this place."

He then turned to Chu Xiu. "What about you? Did you make it into the top 1000?"

Naturally, Chu Xiu wouldn't tell them the truth. Just as he was about to lie, a loud buzzing sound suddenly came from outside the apartment building!

The sound was extremely strange, like a low-pitched air raid siren, one after another. At the same time, an eerie red light flickered outside the building, darkness and red light intertwining.

Wu Xinyi suddenly covered her mouth, pointing in terror towards the door. Everyone followed her gaze and discovered countless streaks of blood flowing down the windows of the corridor. Crimson rain began to fall from the sky!

"What... what's going on?" Everyone looked around in panic. Chu Xiu also jumped up, his expression grave, unsure of what had transpired.

The buzzing sound outside grew louder and louder, the entire apartment building trembling. At the same time, Chu Xiu felt someone whispering in his ear, chanting ancient words he couldn't understand.

These whispers made him dizzy and nauseous.

He looked at the others and found their condition to be even worse. The two lower-level support professions had already begun to lose consciousness, blood trickling from their nostrils.

Just then, a gigantic blood-red hand suddenly slammed onto the corridor!

In the next moment, with an almost unstoppable force, the entire wall of the corridor was torn open!

Amidst the deafening sound of shattering concrete, the outer wall of the corridor was completely destroyed, ripped apart to create a massive hole spanning three floors!

A colossal blood-red giant appeared before them.

It was about forty stories tall, with Chu Xiu and the others at chest level. Its blood-red face had only vague facial features, as if someone had been skinned alive, their fat and fascia removed, leaving only blood-red muscles.

The most disturbing thing was that these muscles were constantly writhing, like countless crimson insects twisting within its body.

As soon as the eerie blood-red giant appeared, Chu Xiu felt a primal fear surge from the depths of his being. He tried to activate his Ghostly Eyes to examine it, but as soon as he did, a sharp pain shot through his eyes, forcing him to look away with a cry.

"Ooooom—"

As the low, drawn-out buzzing sound rang out once more, the blood-red giant struck again. This time, its blood-red hand smashed the entire corridor. Reinforced concrete, a material humans prided themselves on for its ability to withstand artillery fire, was as fragile as a potato chip in the face of such power!

No one in the stronghold dared to breathe. Then, something even more terrifying happened. After clearing the obstacles, the blood-red giant continued to swing its arms, smashing into the load-bearing walls, step by step destroying everything between them and the survivors.

"Run, we have to run." Guan Ke's face was pale. She spoke the words, but her legs wouldn't budge.

The terrifying pressure emanating from the blood-red giant rendered them completely immobile!

Realizing this, despair filled their faces. In the face of such overwhelming power, they had no chance of resistance!

They were filled with resentment and confusion. Resentment that they were on the verge of completing the trial only to be met with such a sudden turn of events. Confusion as to why such a terrifying creature would appear even after the Blood Moon Ritual had ended.

Was it simply because they were unlucky?

Facing an insurmountable gap in strength, everyone in the stronghold crumbled, even Shen Zhuo. Stripped of his wealthy background and leadership facade, he was reduced to his core—an ordinary person.

Only Chu Xiu stared intently at the giant, desperately searching for any possibility of escape.

He could barely move through sheer willpower, but he didn't want to attract the giant's attention.

"I'll quietly retreat to the back, use the others as a distraction, and detonate all my Yin Ghosts. Then, while it's distracted, I'll jump out the window. It's my only chance of survival!"

Chu Xiu's forehead was covered in cold sweat, his muscles tensed, ready to make his last stand. But just then, a gaping maw suddenly split open in the blood-red giant's chest. Countless blood-red tendrils rose, carrying a pitch-black object.

Almost the instant he laid eyes on it, a wave of information flooded Chu Xiu's mind. He understood everything instinctively.

This was the reward for the Blood Moon Ritual.

(End of Chapter)