Chapter 102: Arrow Serpent Beast

Su Li activated the “Peering Rune,” quietly observing the snake’s data.

“Name: Arrow Serpent Beast. Level: 3. Common species among Spiritual Source Beasts. A type of python. Non-venomous. Primary attack method is constriction. Can evolve into the Elite species, Arrow King Serpent.”

“A Level 3 Common monster. This is perfect for leveling up right now, though the quantity is a bit low.” Su Li was secretly delighted. This non-venomous Level 3 snake was not strong enough to pose a threat to them as Level 4s, making it the ideal target for farming Spiritual Sources. The only regret was the low number, although there might be more Arrow Serpent Beasts in the rooms they hadn’t checked.

Su Li pondered while continuing his descent, reaching the 28th floor.

Gong Xiao had descended before him and stopped, waiting for him. She gestured, asking about their next move.

Su Li looked into the 28th floor through a balcony window and saw a swarm of Arrow Serpent Beasts—a large quantity, at least 20 to 30 of them. This was just the number of snakes in one room. Extrapolating from this, the total number of Arrow Serpent Beasts on the 28th floor would be astonishing.

“Excellent! That’s more than enough. This many Arrow Serpent Beasts should be enough for all of us to reach Level 5.”

Su Li’s face lit up with joy. He then dove down again, secretly observing the 27th and 26th floors.

The 27th floor still housed some Arrow Serpent Beasts, while on the 26th floor, he saw a few monkey-like monsters.

These monkeys had green fur and webbed feet like an aquatic animal. Su Li peered into their data and learned they were Level 4 Water Monkey Beasts, also a Common monster species.

Su Li decided not to dive any deeper. Although there might be more powerful or numerous monsters below, the Arrow Serpent Beasts were the most suitable for them. Of course, disturbing the Arrow Serpent Beasts might lure stronger monsters from deeper down, but that was unavoidable. They could only be as cautious as possible.

Su Li had gained experience in hunting and luring monsters. He knew that most of the monsters attracted were those on the upper few floors. Creatures deeper down were difficult to provoke into surfacing unless under special circumstances.

He signaled upward to Gong Xiao and Xu Haishui. The three began to ascend.

The three had been moving quietly the entire time, not disturbing the resting monsters on the various floors. They surfaced without incident.

Su Li’s head broke the surface, and he let out a long breath.

Ding Longyun, who was in the corridor, quickly asked, “How was it?”

“Very good. The floors below are full of a Level 3 monster called the Arrow Serpent Beast. They are perfect for us. Gong Xiao, Xu Haishui, you both go up. I’ll lure these Arrow Serpent Beasts up.”

Xu Haishui nodded, gripped the window, and climbed onto the corridor.

Gong Xiao didn’t argue with Su Li this time. Su Li was stronger than her, so it made sense for him to take the risk of luring the monsters.

Seeing Gong Xiao safely in the corridor, Su Li took a breath and sank again. Luring the Arrow Serpent Beasts was easy. Su Li swam directly to the 29th floor balcony. He took the machete in his hand and hacked at the coiled Arrow Serpent Beast closest to the balcony.

The sleeping Arrow Serpent Beast was startled awake. Its triangular head immediately rose, but before it could register the situation, its head was severed by Su Li’s machete.

Blood gushed out. The other snakes coiled on the balcony were instantly awakened.

A Spiritual Source emerged from the beheaded Arrow Serpent Beast’s corpse and merged into Su Li’s forehead.

“Level 4 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 19/50”

After killing the Arrow Serpent Beast, Su Li did not linger. He spun around and shot up toward the surface.

Behind him, seven or eight Arrow Serpent Beasts appeared.

The Arrow Serpent Beasts uncoiled their bodies. Su Li realized they were very long. Even the shortest one exceeded four meters in length, making them appear thin and long, like a stretched arrow. They also shot through the water very quickly, their bodies rigid like arrows.

Su Li understood why they were named “Arrow Serpent Beasts.”

Su Li had just broken the surface when two Arrow Serpent Beasts chased him up. Their attack method was simple: catch the enemy, and immediately coil their slender bodies around them to constrict the prey. Although their bodies looked thin, their strength was immense. Once entangled, the crushing force could even twist steel pipes.

Su Li felt his right leg instantly being constricted by one of the Arrow Serpent Beasts. Fortunately, his reaction was lightning-fast. He stretched out his left hand, and the ten-centimeter-long “Gluttony Fangs” emerged, slicing downward.

The Arrow Serpent Beast, which had just coiled around his right leg and hadn’t yet applied force, was instantly severed by the “Gluttony Fangs.”

“Level 4 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 20/50”

Having killed the Arrow Serpent Beast, Su Li kicked off the water, holding the machete in his right hand. He reached up, grabbed the edge of the corridor window, pulled his body out of the water, and vaulted over the railing.

In the water beneath him, an Arrow Serpent Beast shot out of the water like an arrow, lunging toward Su Li.

Gong Xiao and Ding Longyun, standing in the corridor, struck almost simultaneously. Ding Longyun slammed his steel rod outward. Gong Xiao spread her left hand, shooting out the green, leafy vine—her special ability, “Entangling Vine.”

The “Entangling Vine” shot out faster than Ding Longyun’s steel rod, wrapping around the head of the Arrow Serpent Beast that had shot out of the water. Gong Xiao yanked with her left hand. The four-meter-long Arrow Serpent Beast was pulled out of the water and slammed onto the corridor floor.

She swung the military dagger in her right hand, coordinating with the “Entangling Vine.” Blood splattered in mid-air. The Arrow Serpent Beast was severed in half. Its body fell back into the water, and a Spiritual Source appeared, merging into Gong Xiao’s forehead.

Su Li landed steadily in the corridor. The water surface below was disturbed by continuous splashing sounds as one Arrow Serpent Beast after another shot out of the water, pouncing onto the people in the corridor.

These Arrow Serpent Beasts moved swiftly in the water, but their speed slowed considerably once they left the water.

The corridor was narrow. The five of them stood side-by-side, confronting seven or eight Arrow Serpent Beasts that shot through the window. They all moved to attack.

“These Arrow Serpent Beasts are non-venomous and are Level 3 Spiritual Source Beasts. They are no threat,” Su Li said. He easily swung his machete, harvesting another Spiritual Source. The severed Arrow Serpent Beast’s corpse fell back into the water. The blood seeping from it attracted more monsters below.

The seven or eight charging Arrow Serpent Beasts were easily slain by the group. All four—except Xu Xuehui—gained Spiritual Sources. Their bodies fell into the water, and the blood slowly stained the surface red. Below, dark shadows appeared, and more and more Arrow Serpent Beasts surfaced. These monsters fought over the corpses of their own kind, and the water below churned with activity.

More Arrow Serpent Beasts launched attacks toward the four people in the corridor. They shot out of the water like arrows, pouncing on the five. The number quickly surpassed 30.

(End of Chapter)