Chapter 43: Elite Beast

The steel shovel struck the giant crab’s hard shell, making a sound like metal clashing against metal. The shovel bounced back, and Ding Longyun felt a jolt of numbness in both arms. The giant crab seemed even angrier. It extended one massive chela through the doorway, attempting to pinch Ding Longyun.

Ding Longyun quickly backed further away, keeping the huge pincer from reaching him.

Su Li let go of Xu Xuehui, activated the “Peering Rune,” and focused on the giant crab.

A message immediately appeared in his mind.

“Name: Tyrant Crab, Elite species among Level 3 Spiritual Source Beasts. Carapace is hard as iron; the abdomen is its only weakness. Killing the Tyrant Crab has a certain probability of acquiring the special skill ‘Tyrant Shell.'”

“It’s an Elite Level 3 Spiritual Source Beast—no wonder it’s so terrifying.” Su Li took a deep breath and said, “This thing is called a Tyrant Crab. It’s an Elite species of Level 3 Spiritual Source Beast. The Marine Iguana Monitor was just a common Level 3 Spiritual Source Beast.”

Su Li now knew that among the same level of Spiritual Source Beasts, there were common and elite species, and the elite monsters were significantly stronger than the common ones. That explained why the Tyrant Crab could easily kill the similarly leveled Marine Iguana Monitor.

What interested him most was the chance that killing the Tyrant Crab could grant him the new special skill “Tyrant Shell.”

Ding Longyun saw the vertical eye-like fine lines appear between Su Li’s eyebrows and was curious about how he obtained information on these monsters.

Su Li didn’t hide it. He told Ding Longyun that it was called the “Peering Rune,” a special ability like his “Soul Devour.” Although it had no offensive capability, it was highly practical because it allowed him to peer into the basic data of these Spiritual Source Beasts.

Due to its size, the Tyrant Crab couldn’t squeeze through the stairwell doorway. It kept reaching one of its massive chelae inside.

Ding Longyun, holding the steel shovel, struck the chela twice. Unfortunately, the claw was too hard. Striking it was like hitting steel; it couldn’t injure the Tyrant Crab. Since the crab couldn’t squeeze in, it couldn’t harm them either.

“Let’s go.” After learning the data on the Tyrant Crab, Su Li rushed down the stairs.

Seeing Su Li move down, Xu Xuehui quickly followed. Ding Longyun muttered curses under his breath: “Don’t think you’re so arrogant just because you’re big, you big crab! I’ll boil you in a pot sooner or later.”

Saying this, he also followed them downstairs.

The three descended the stairs. Su Li, who was in the lead, quickly came under attack.

The moonlight couldn’t penetrate the stairwell, making the interior very dark. Although not pitch-black, they could only see vague shapes.

Xu Xuehui, right behind Su Li, suddenly warned, “Watch out!”

She had enhanced her eyes once, giving her noticeably better vision than Su Li and Ding Longyun. Even in the gloom, she could see more clearly than they could.

Before she finished, Su Li had already noticed a black shadow darting out of the darkness at the turn of the stairs below. In the darkness, the creature’s features were almost impossible to distinguish, but the message from the “Peering Rune” told him it was a Water Rat Beast.

Su Li remained calm and steady. He swung the iron rod in his right hand. In both speed and strength, he easily overwhelmed the Water Rat Beast before him.

With a “thud,” the iron rod struck the Water Rat Beast’s head. Its skull instantly shattered and collapsed inward, and its body plummeted down. It was killed with a single blow.

A Spiritual Source appeared and merged into Su Li’s mind.

“Level 2 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 14/20”

Su Li abandoned the struggle with the Tyrant Crab on the roof precisely because he was targeting this swarm of Water Rat Beasts.

These Water Rat Beasts feared the Tyrant Crab and dared not rush onto the roof. Although they had retreated, they hadn’t fled far and had instead gathered in the stairwell, ready to find an opportunity to attack them.

The Water Rat Beast was a common Level 2 Spiritual Source Beast. Its strength wasn’t overwhelming, making it the perfect target for him right now.

Seeing Su Li dispatch a Water Rat Beast that lunged from the darkness, Ding Longyun also understood the plan. He gave a low chuckle, rushed past Xu Xuehui, and charged downward.

Even though Ding Longyun was a Level 3 Spiritual Source Wielder, one level higher than the Water Rat Beast, killing it would still grant him a Spiritual Source. However, if he were to hunt the even lower-level Level 1 Spiritual Source Beasts, the gain would be negligible, with almost no change.

Water Rat Beasts charged upward from the lower stairs, snapping at the two men.

Ding Longyun roared. He powerfully thrust his steel shovel. Though the shovel wasn’t particularly sharp, when swung with his strength and striking the Water Rat Beast’s neck, it managed to decapitate the monster.

“Good! Only four more to go!” Ding Longyun was increasingly excited as he acquired a Spiritual Source.

Su Li killed another Water Rat Beast and now possessed Spiritual Source 15/20. The breakthrough was getting closer. With only four Spiritual Sources remaining, Su Li’s heart was also racing with excitement.

Ding Longyun let out a shout, suddenly sweeping his steel shovel horizontally. With a “smack,” he struck a Water Rat Beast from the side, instantly destroying its head and acquiring a Spiritual Source.

After having successfully hunted the Level 3 Marine Iguana Monitors, both Su Li and Ding Longyun found fighting these common Level 2 Water Rat Beasts increasingly easy.

“Only three more!” Ding Longyun shouted. He suddenly surged past Su Li, charging down to the corridor on the next floor. He shifted the steel shovel to his left hand, extended his right hand, activated “Soul Devour,” and struck the head of a Water Rat Beast.

The Water Rat Beast rolled its eyes and collapsed silently. A white Spiritual Source shot out from its body and merged into Ding Longyun’s forehead.

“Watch out!” Su Li suddenly saw something and quickly warned him, charging downward as well. He was still a moment too slow. Just as the Water Rat Beast fell, a figure flashed out of the dark corner of the corridor. It swung its right arm, striking Ding Longyun’s chest.

Alerted by Su Li’s warning, Ding Longyun instinctively retreated. He felt a chill on his chest and a piercing pain, letting out a cry of agony.

Su Li rushed down at almost the same instant, roaring as he brought the iron rod down.

(End of Chapter)