An invasion from the Abyss? I, a demonic cultivator, laughed.

Chapter 45 This is my prey
Is Chu Xiu cold-blooded?
of course.

However, he does not deliberately act indifferent to highlight his cold-blooded personality.

In Chu Xiu's view, true cold-bloodedness is extreme egoism.

Are serial killers cold-blooded? Of course, but so are capitalists who appear amiable on the surface, even doing charity to build their reputation, but secretly accumulate wealth by profiting from human suffering.

Chu Xiu wanted to be the latter.

Because the latter can integrate into society and strengthen themselves by leveraging the strength of others.

Therefore, in Chu Xiu's eyes, the goodwill of those who could help him was also an important "benefit".

Shen Zhuo is one, and Yun Lu is another.

The former's family can provide him with assistance, while the latter's talent for finding food allows him to focus more on upgrading his exploration.

Although these forms of assistance wouldn't have made a significant difference even without them, Chu Xiu wouldn't let go of even the smallest bit of help.

That's why he gave Yunlu his clothes to wear on that cold night.

The reason I had acted distantly before was simply to make Shen Zhuo realize my firm stance and to make it easier for me to negotiate.

He doesn't actually miss any opportunity to gain favor without having to put in any effort.

And what could be easier to gain favor with someone than saving them in a critical moment?
However, Chu Xiu simply left.

that is because
"A large enough contrast is needed to leave a more lasting impression."

A smile appeared on Chu Xiu's lips.

In fact, he had already sent out three Yin Ghosts to slaughter the scattered Corpse Ghosts.

Neither Shen Zhuo nor Yun Lu will be in danger, and he will not give up those experiences.

But he was a little greedier and wanted to maximize his profits, for which he already had a perfect plan.

Not to mention, he didn't want to waste any time. If he let someone else snatch that high-level ghoul because of this little bit of delay, he would suffer a huge loss.

While he was pondering, he had already used the Blood Moon's senses to pinpoint the location of the high-level ghoul.

On the other side of the same 32-story stronghold!
Not far from the elite ghoul, a bright red dot was flashing in his senses.

Chu Xiu snorted coldly, his movements becoming even faster. Each step he took on the ground produced a heavy thud, and his well-developed thigh muscles unleashed a power comparable to that of an elephant, allowing him to move swiftly through the stairwell!
Suddenly, a figure flashed past him, followed by a huge black shadow that raised its thick hand and slammed it down on the figure!

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the figure flew backward, but as soon as he landed, he skillfully dissipated most of the impact and stood up with his hands in front of him, re-assuming a fighting stance.

Chu Xiu narrowed his eyes slightly. With the help of the blood moon's light, a cold and arrogant profile came into view—it was Guan Ke!
At this moment, Guan Ke was completely different from his usual self. His face, which had previously shown some inferiority and resistance to communicating with others due to the scars, was now filled with sharpness and decisiveness, as well as a fierceness that Chu Xiu, as a demonic cultivator, was very familiar with.

She was wearing a form-fitting black soft armor, with a metal block attached to her back from which six mechanical arms extended. Three of the arms were damaged, and broken cables could be seen inside.

Wearing gloves wrapped with copper coils, he held a heavy metal hammer with coils of wire wrapped around the handle and intricate patterns engraved on the hammerhead, from which flashes of electricity occasionally appeared.

"Roar!"

At this moment, the dark figure launched another attack and chased after her. Guan Ke shouted, and the coils on her gloves glowed brightly, as if energy was being transferred from the gloves to the wires of the hammer, and finally gathered at the hammerhead!
The next moment, more than a dozen azure lightning bolts, each as thick as a little finger, shot out and struck the black shadow in mid-air!
"boom!"

The dark figure fell heavily to the ground, and the unpleasant smell of burning flesh reached Chu Xiu's nose.

"You've got something." Chu Xiu narrowed his eyes in surprise. He could tell that Guan Ke had already reached level 5. Chu Xiu had paid special attention to her when the Blood Moon Ceremony had just begun. At that time, she was only level 4. Obviously, the extra 100% experience bonus allowed her to break through quickly.

He is indeed a bold and decisive person.

Once she reaches level 5, even though the Mechanic is the weakest A-rank class in the early game, she still becomes a formidable fighter with her lightning-shooting hammer and the mechanical arm behind her.

"It should be stronger than my level 7 Yin Ghost, but it's hard to say against a level 8 Yin Ghost."

Chu Xiu silently made a judgment in his heart.

However, just when Chu Xiu thought Guan Ke was about to turn the tables and kill her opponent, she turned around and ran without hesitation!
Almost the instant she took a step, the dark figure that had fallen to the ground roared and staggered to its feet again.

Only then did Chu Xiu get a clear look at the monster by the moonlight. It was a bipedal humanoid creature, nearly three meters tall, covered in layers of exoskeleton, like a strong man wearing a giant insect armor.

Its left hand had claws similar to those of ordinary ghouls, only thicker, longer, and sharper. Its right hand was inexplicably thick, with an arm circumference probably exceeding one hundred centimeters! The front of its arm seemed to be embedded in a boulder. With a casual swing, the monster smashed a large crater in the ground!
Type 008 Corpse Demon

[Rank] Mortal Rank 8

[Attributes] Constitution 25.6, Spirit?, Energy Level?
[Skill] Power Burst (Doubles strength for a short time)
[Traits] Great Strength, Heavy Armor

[Talent] Resilient Skin (Skin protection +5.5, significantly enhanced heat insulation, acid resistance, and shock absorption)

The panel in front of him made Chu Xiu secretly gasp in amazement.

Good heavens, this is practically a super heavy tank!

Keep in mind that his +7 Energy Drain Heavy Armor only provides a maximum of 11.4 protection, while this talent adds 5.5 points of protection!
And then take into account the additional increases later
He finally understood why Guan Ke had run away. This 008-type ghoul was originally a defensive type, and with the added 300% health regeneration speed, it was practically an unkillable monster.

Guan Ke's lightning strikes were like scraping a scalp! Even if you took advantage of the moment when the opponent was paralyzed to attack with a hammer and a mechanical arm, you couldn't inflict any fatal damage.

Running away is indeed the most appropriate option.

He glanced at the direction Guan Ke had fled, which was down a stairwell, and Chu Xiu couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

If it were him, he would definitely lure this guy to Shen Zhuo first. It seems that although this girl is a cunning old fox like him, she is still kind-hearted after all.

Without further hesitation, Chu Xiu pushed off with his back leg, unleashing tremendous power. In the blink of an eye, he covered a distance of more than ten meters. He spun and straightened in mid-air, and with the momentum, the bone spear in his hand, like a dragon emerging from the sea, pierced straight into the head of the heavily armored ghoul!

His speed was too fast. The ghoul was completely unprepared and only managed to stop its charge before Chu Xiu's bone spear pierced its chest!
With a loud clang of metal clashing, spiderweb-like cracks spread from the point of impact on the breastplate protecting the heavily armored ghoul. The next moment, with a crisp "crack," a palm-sized piece of exoskeleton armor shattered and fell from the ghoul's chest.

"boom!"

The heavily armored ghoul took a step back, its bloodthirsty red eyes staring at Chu Xiu with suspicion and uncertainty, and it did not launch a counterattack for a moment.

"Chu Xiu!"

Meanwhile, Guan Ke, hearing the commotion behind him and turning around to see this scene, was overjoyed. He immediately stopped his escape and shouted, "You've come at the right time! If we work together, we might have a chance to take care of this one!"

However, before he could finish speaking, the retractable bone spikes behind Chu Xiu suddenly shot out and slammed directly into the ground in front of Guan Ke!
Instantly, gravel flew everywhere, and the immense force left a clear hole in the concrete floor.

"You," Guan Ke looked up, puzzled, and met Chu Xiu's cold gaze.

"Get out of here, or the next blow will be your life."

"This is my prey. What makes you think you deserve a share?"

(End of this chapter)