Chapter 41: Killing Monsters Above Your Level

This time, he didn’t use the iron rod to swing and strike, but treated it like a spear. Using all his strength, the one-meter-long iron rod was thrust entirely into the Marine Iguana Monitor’s massive open mouth, down its throat.

More than half of the one-meter-long iron rod was lodged in the Marine Iguana Monitor’s mouth. Su Li let out a low growl, used both arms to lift the iron rod, skewering the Marine Iguana Monitor, and hoisting it up.

With a “boom,” the Marine Iguana Monitor he lifted was slammed onto the ground, making a tremendous noise.

Blood profusely gushed from the lizard’s mouth, which it could not close.

Lying on the ground, the Marine Iguana Monitor twitched and writhed. Although not immediately dead, the iron rod inserted through its mouth had injured vital internal organs. This was a fatal heavy blow; it was clearly not going to survive.

Having just dealt with one, the other Marine Iguana Monitor he had avoided earlier turned and rushed to bite. Su Li took the opportunity to pull the iron rod out of the dying monitor’s mouth, pushed off with both feet, and leaped diagonally away.

Unexpectedly, this Marine Iguana Monitor’s attack changed suddenly. It pushed off the ground with its four feet, slightly retracted its body, and its tail suddenly whipped over like a massive lash.

Su Li was caught off guard and hit by the sudden tail swipe. He immediately groaned and tumbled, feeling a burning pain in his leg where he was hit, but thankfully, it was painful but not broken.

Su Li knew this was bad. His reaction was swift, and he immediately rolled on the ground, only to feel a putrid stench fill his nostrils as the Marine Iguana Monitor’s massive mouth appeared right in front of him.

Cursing under his breath, he had no time to dodge. Su Li quickly raised the iron rod to block. The monitor’s mouth clamped down on the iron rod, passing so close to Su Li’s face that it gave him a cold sweat.

His biggest fear was the potent venom in the Marine Iguana Monitor’s mouth, which was why he had been cautious and avoided getting too close in their previous exchanges. Now forced into close combat, he found that the physically larger Marine Iguana Monitor was less agile than he was in close quarters.

After biting the iron rod, and before it could release and try to bite again, Su Li clenched his left hand into a fist and landed a solid punch on the left side of the Marine Iguana Monitor’s forehead.

The four Gluttony Fangs, ten centimeters long, sank deep into its head. Although the Marine Iguana Monitor was tough-skinned and hard-bodied, it still could not withstand the Gluttony Fangs.

Su Li pressed his advantage, using all his strength to rake the fangs down, splitting open half of the Marine Iguana Monitor’s head.

Su Li finally sighed in relief, kicked the creature away, and immediately scrambled back up, only to find that Ding Longyun had also succeeded.

While Su Li was dealing with two Marine Iguana Monitors, and seeing that the fourth one was about to appear, Ding Longyun finally changed his fighting style.

Earlier, he, like Su Li, was wary of the monitor’s venom and unwilling to get close, relying solely on his steel shovel to hit and attack. However, the Marine Iguana Monitor’s defense was astonishingly high. He could injure it but not inflict a fatal wound.

Seeing the fourth Marine Iguana Monitor charge toward him as it climbed onto the roof, Ding Longyun knew he was in trouble. Forced by necessity, he put away the steel shovel and, for the first time, actively approached the Marine Iguana Monitor. He dodged its lunge, and as the monitor rushed past, he slammed out with his right hand.

Extending his hand near the mouth of a venomous monster certainly required courage. Being bitten or even grazed by its teeth could result in poisoning.

Fortunately, the attack was successful this time. His right hand struck the Marine Iguana Monitor’s head accurately. In his palm, a faint, almost imperceptible substance emerged—it was his special ability, “Soul Devour.”

“Soul Devour” activated instantly. The Marine Iguana Monitor took the hit, staggered forward a few steps, suddenly rolled its eyes back, and crashed heavily to the ground. The outer skin of its head showed no damage, but the internal structure was destroyed. Red and white matter slowly began to seep out of its mouth and nostrils.

Just after eliminating this one, the fourth Marine Iguana Monitor charged from behind. With the previous experience, Ding Longyun was much calmer. He shifted the steel shovel to his left hand and swept it horizontally.

With a “smack,” he knocked the charging Marine Iguana Monitor away.

At this point, Su Li had successfully killed two Marine Iguana Monitors. Two Spiritual Sources poured into his body, and two messages appeared consecutively in his body.

“Level 2 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 9/20”

“Level 2 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 11/20”

“Huh? As expected for killing a monster above my level, each Marine Iguana Monitor gives two Spiritual Sources.” Su Li was secretly delighted. Without stopping, he held the iron rod and charged toward Ding Longyun.

Ding Longyun had just knocked the fourth Marine Iguana Monitor away. Su Li rushed up from behind the monitor, gripped the iron rod with both hands, and slammed it down.

With a “bang,” the iron rod struck the Marine Iguana Monitor’s back solidly. The monitor roared and whipped its tail out.

Having been warned, Su Li was prepared and easily leaped to avoid the tail. Ding Longyun rushed forward. While the monitor was twisted around, roaring at Su Li, he slapped the Marine Iguana Monitor’s head with his right hand again, activating the “Soul Devour” attack.

“Soul Devour” is a special energy that can penetrate skin and muscle, directly invading the brain and destroying the internal structure, causing instant death.

The Marine Iguana Monitor, hit by Ding Longyun’s “Soul Devour,” swayed and then collapsed softly.

“Six more to go,” Ding Longyun said, his eyes shining with excitement.

Su Li understood he meant six more Spiritual Sources were needed for him to evolve again.

“How many more do you need?” Ding Longyun asked, seeing two more Marine Iguana Monitors pop their heads over the roof’s edge. He immediately charged toward the one on the left: “Leave the left one to me!”

“I need nine more,” Su Li replied, charging toward the monitor on the right. A thought crossed his mind: Ding Longyun was a Level 3 Spiritual Source Wielder, one level higher than him, but his actual strength seemed… not much stronger than his own.

He had vaguely sensed this during the fight against the Marine Iguana Monitor just now.

He had originally thought Ding Longyun could easily overpower the Marine Iguana Monitor, but that wasn’t the case. He hadn’t won any more easily than Su Li did.

“Could it be because I enhanced my Muscles, and he chose not to?” Su Li mused.

After all, his choice to enhance his muscles directly increased his strength by 100 jin and improved muscle control, boosting his power and speed. Ding Longyun, however, chose to enhance his Lungs and Stomach, foregoing muscle enhancement.

Xu Xuehui, who was hiding near the stairwell, suddenly heard very dense noises coming from the dark stairwell behind her.

(End of Chapter)