Chapter 50: Monster Evolution

Seeing the strength and speed of his strikes, Su Li knew Ding Longyun would have no problem killing these two Water Rat Beasts.

After the two Water Rat Beasts were killed and Ding Longyun absorbed their two Spiritual Sources, he took a long, deep breath. He felt his chest being enveloped in warm currents, accelerating the healing of his broken bones.

“It’s a shame there are no higher-level monsters. Otherwise, the healing would be much quicker,” Ding Longyun said with regret.

Su Li suggested, “How about we throw some more corpses down and lure some more monsters?”

Ding Longyun was startled. He quickly shook his head and said, “Forget it. That’s enough for tonight. My injury isn’t life-threatening anymore. I’ve gained so many Spiritual Sources that I estimate the broken bone will be healed after a night’s rest. I think everyone is tired. It’s time to rest.”

Su Li acknowledged this. He felt a bit unfinished business; he wanted to advance to a Level 4 Spiritual Source Wielder quickly to catch up with Ding Longyun. However, he could understand Ding Longyun’s decision.

Fighting non-stop tonight had left him mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Especially the fight with the Tyrant Crab—he could feel the heavy strain on his heart. Although his strength now reached 1,000 jin and he could unleash power unimaginable to ordinary people, he felt unable to sustain his stamina for a long fight.

He looked toward the end of the corridor, where a few Corpse Beasts and a Water Rat Beast were still wandering and tearing at each other. Low growls and sounds of fighting occasionally drifted up from the two floors below. Clearly, there were still scattered monsters in this three-story building.

Of course, not all monsters were targeting the three living people; the Spiritual Source Beasts were also mutually fighting and devouring each other’s flesh and blood.

These Spiritual Source Beasts were capable of evolution, just like them.

Su Li and the others walked along the corridor. The few Corpse Beasts and the Water Rat Beast at the far end stopped fighting each other and began to move toward them.

Ding Longyun ignored the approaching Corpse Beasts and Water Rat Beast and opened a security door, walking inside.

The Water Rat Beast was the fastest. It charged up to the doorway, almost rearing up on its hind legs, opening its mouth, and attempting to pounce and bite Su Li, who was standing right by the door.

Su Li’s iron rod swung out with precise accuracy. The Water Rat Beast was instantly exploded in the head and killed immediately.

Having survived the fight tonight, Su Li had accumulated even more combat experience. His striking accuracy had become even more refined. The iron rod swung out and landed squarely on the center of the Water Rat Beast’s skull, hitting neither left nor right. He mentally sighed, “Perfect.”

A message sounded in his mind.

“Level 3 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 9/30”

After the Water Rat Beast was killed, the few stumbling low-level Corpse Beasts actually stopped. They seemed to hesitate.

“It looks like these low-level Corpse Beasts have evolved simple intelligence,” Su Li murmured to himself. He guessed the Corpse Beasts were hesitant and afraid. He raised the iron rod, adopting an aggressive posture, and sure enough, the low-level Corpse Beasts dispersed. They suddenly turned and scurried off in the other direction, no longer attacking him.

Su Li lowered the iron rod, let out a quiet sigh of relief, and then entered the apartment with Xu Xuehui, closing the door behind them.

Ding Longyun had already stripped off his blood-stained outer clothes and was lying flat on the bed. Although he had absorbed several Spiritual Sources, a broken bone was not a minor issue. Since his bone was currently in the process of healing, he dared not move carelessly for fear the bone would mend crookedly, which would be disastrous.

Su Li listened intently. He could still occasionally hear the sounds of Spiritual Source Beasts fighting or low growls coming from the floors below.

“Don’t worry about them. It’s fine,” Ding Longyun said, breathing softly from the bed. “These scattered, remaining monsters won’t cause trouble for long and will eventually leave. The doors and windows here are all sealed. Even if a monster manages to break through, we’ll be woken up. All we need to do now is sleep peacefully. Of course, keep your weapon by the bed so you can fight at any time.”

The steel shovel he used was leaning against the headboard of his bed.

Su Li knew he was right. The room they were sleeping in was the living room, which had no windows. The door was a security door, which was largely impenetrable. The doors leading from the living room to the other bedrooms with windows were all locked.

This meant that for a monster to enter the living room and harm them, it would have to first break the sealed windows in the side rooms, then break down the doors leading to the living room, and then enter the living room itself.

By the time a monster managed to enter the living room, they would have long been awakened and prepared for a fight.

Placing the iron rod by the side of the bed, Su Li changed out of his bloodied clothes and lay down on the bed. Only then did he feel the aches all over his body. Although his spirit was excited, his body was profoundly exhausted.

“It’s only now that I’m lying down that I realize how tired I am tonight,” Su Li said. “Even absorbing a Spiritual Source can’t completely relieve this fatigue.”

Ding Longyun sighed, “You’re right. And these monsters that are appearing are getting stronger and their numbers are increasing. I threw down a similar amount of corpses last night, but the monsters that appeared were nowhere near as terrifying or numerous as tonight. If it weren’t for you, I would be dead right now.”

“By the way, we also have to thank the little girl.” Ding Longyun looked at Xu Xuehui as he said this. Xu Xuehui played a big part in helping him escape the Tyrant Crab’s fatal attack.

Su Li agreed. “Yes, Xuehui’s reaction was quite sharp. I honestly thought we were too late.”

Xu Xuehui quickly shook her head, her face flushing slightly. She was clearly embarrassed by the praise.

“It seems these Spiritual Source Beasts are constantly evolving. Brother Ding, given this situation, will the Spiritual Source Beasts that appear tomorrow night be even more advanced than tonight’s?”

Ding Longyun’s tone was heavy. “That’s what I’m worried about right now. These things are evolving too quickly. If a more formidable creature appears tomorrow night, will the three of us be able to fend it off?”

Su Li also considered this problem. Although he now possessed 1,000 jin of force, he was not invincible. It had taken a long struggle to kill just one Tyrant Crab. If two appeared simultaneously, or a monster even stronger than the Tyrant Crab, he would have difficulty coping.

And the consequence of being unable to cope was death. That was the cruel reality they faced.

After thinking for a moment, Su Li asked, “What if we don’t throw these corpses into the water? Will that help?”

Ding Longyun sighed. “Not throwing the corpses down would be more troublesome, because the monsters would appear completely randomly. We wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly all night. Monsters could appear at any time, forcing us to constantly worry. Throwing the corpses down concentrates the time they appear.”

Su Li strongly agreed with this. He hadn’t thrown corpses into the water during his first two days in his own apartment, and the monsters’ appearances were indeed unpredictable, certainly not concentrated like they were tonight.

(End of Chapter)