Weird Survival: I can devour thousands of talents

Chapter 191 190: Don’t order yet!!
[If I can't find a job, forget it! I'll review it after the Chinese New Year! I'll start revising it tomorrow! Thank you for your patience these days!]

Ling Xiao stood at the entrance to the catacombs. The deep darkness seemed like a gaping maw, swallowing all light. His heartbeat was steady and powerful in his chest. The torch in his hand swayed in the breeze, casting dancing shadows. As a seasoned explorer, he knew that every voyage into the unknown was a test of courage and wisdom. Today, he faced not only the depths of the catacombs, but also the unknown monsters lurking in the darkness.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath and adjusted the gear on his back, ensuring every tool was within easy reach. A sharp short sword hung at his waist. It was his most trusted companion, having saved him from danger countless times. He checked the torch to ensure it was still burning, then slowly stepped into the shadows of the cave.

The air within the caverns was damp and chilly, and the sound of dripping water echoed in the silence, like the countdown of time. Ling Xiao took every step cautiously, knowing that in a place like this, even the slightest carelessness could be fatal. His torch illuminated the path ahead, but it also revealed his position. He had to be constantly vigilant, for in this cavern teeming with monsters, even light could attract predators from the darkness.

As he went deeper, the passageway in the cave became narrower and narrower. Moss and vines clung to the walls, like ancient guardians, trying to stop any intruders. Ling Xiao used his short sword to cut through the vines that blocked his path. Each swing of the sword was accompanied by a low, muffled breath, and he could feel his muscles trembling slightly with tension.

Suddenly, a low roar erupted from a nearby source, shattering the stillness of the cavern. Ling Xiao paused, gripping his dagger tightly, his nerves tense. His eyes flickered with alertness in the firelight, his ears picking up every tiny sound. The sound grew closer, and he could feel the ground tremble slightly, as if something was rapidly approaching.

Ling Xiao quickly retreated a few steps, leaning against the wall, torch held high to illuminate the passage ahead. A massive figure emerged from the darkness. It was a burrow beast with sharp claws and fangs, its eyes gleaming a greedy green in the firelight. It roared, baring its fangs, and lunged at Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao's reaction was swift and decisive. He dodged the Burrow Beast's first attack, his dagger flashing with a cold gleam as it pierced the monster's abdomen. The Burrow Beast roared in pain and turned to lunge again, but Ling Xiao was already prepared for his next attack. He used the Burrow Beast's momentum, skillfully guiding its attack, and then, at a precise angle, plunged his dagger deep into the beast's throat.

After the battle, Ling Xiao panted heavily. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and checked his injuries. Fortunately, aside from a few scrapes, he was unharmed. He retrieved his dagger from the crypt beast's corpse. The blade was stained with the monster's blood, but there was no mercy in his eyes. In this world, survival is a brutal battle.

Ling Xiao pressed on, knowing this was only the beginning. The dangers within the catacombs far exceeded his reach, but his resolve remained unwavering. His goal was to find the mysterious treasure deep within the catacombs, a legendary artifact said to hold the power to change the world. But before he could do so, he must traverse a realm infested with monsters.

As Ling Xiao deepened, he encountered more monsters, each battle testing his limits. He used his wits and courage to defeat one cave guardian after another, each victory bringing him closer to his goal. His heart was filled with a thirst for the unknown and a love of adventure, which fueled his continued progress.

Finally, after countless battles and challenges, Ling Xiao reached the deepest part of the caverns. There lay a vast underground lake, its waters deep and azure, seemingly filled with endless secrets. In the center of the lake lay a small island, upon which stood an ancient stone platform, upon which sat a faintly glowing treasure chest.

Ling Xiao's heartbeat quickened, knowing that this was the treasure he sought. He carefully crossed the lake, each step akin to treading on knife-edge. When he finally stood on the stone platform and opened the treasure chest, he saw the treasure's true form—a gem radiating mysterious power. Its light illuminated the entire cave, and even Ling Xiao's eyes.

Ling Xiao knew the power of this gem was immense. It could bring him endless wealth and power, but it could also bring him more dangers and challenges. He took a deep look at the gem before carefully placing it in his arms. He knew this was just the beginning; more adventures and challenges awaited him.

Ling Xiao's footsteps echoed on the damp ground of the caverns, each step accompanied by the drumbeat of his heartbeat. His torch cast a faint halo of light ahead, but beyond that halo lay a bottomless darkness. He knew that in this darkness, countless eyes watched him, waiting for the opportunity to devour him.

Ling Xiao clutched the dagger, battle-tested through countless battles, its blade still stained with the blood of previous monsters. His breathing was steady and deep. Though his heart was filled with anxiety about the coming battle, his face was devoid of any fear. He knew that fear would only weaken him, and here, weakness meant death.

Suddenly, a deep roar erupted from the darkness ahead. It sounded like it came from deep underground, filled with ferocity and menace. Ling Xiao paused, his ears twitching slightly, picking up every subtle sound. His eyes flickered with vigilance in the firelight, and he raised his dagger slightly, pointing it in the direction of the sound.

A massive figure slowly emerged from the darkness. It was a cavernous beast with enormous fangs and sharp claws. Its eyes gleamed red in the darkness, like two burning charcoal fires. The beast's breathing was heavy and powerful, each breath carrying a stench of hot, fishy air that struck Ling Xiao's face.

Ling Xiao's heartbeat raced in his chest, but his expression remained calm. He knew that facing a monster like this, any moment of panic could lead to a fatal mistake. He began to slowly retreat, searching for a fighting position while observing the beast's every move.

The beast let out a deafening roar and lunged at Ling Xiao. Its speed was astonishing, its massive body whipping up a gust of wind along the ground. Ling Xiao dodged the beast's charge with a sideways motion, his dagger flashing through the air as it fiercely penetrated the beast's flank.

The beast roared in pain, its massive body tumbling across the ground, attempting to pin Ling Xiao beneath it. Ling Xiao dodged nimbly, his form shifting like a ghost under the beast's attacks. Each time he dodged, he found an opportunity to inflict a deep wound on the beast with his dagger.

The battle dragged on for a long time. Ling Xiao's strength was rapidly depleting, but his will became stronger. He knew that as long as he had breath left, he could not give up. His dagger inflicted countless wounds on the beast's body. Blood gushed out from these wounds, staining the surrounding ground a bright red.

Finally, after a fierce attack, the behemoth fell. Its massive body twitched a few times on the ground before it stopped moving. Ling Xiao stood there, panting heavily, his body covered in sweat and the monster's blood. He looked at the behemoth's corpse, feeling no pity, only a determination to survive. Ling Xiao didn't rest for long, knowing that more monsters awaited him in the cave. He picked up his dagger, wiped the blood off with the behemoth's fur, and continued forward. His torch cast a faint halo of light ahead, but beyond that halo, there was more darkness and the unknown.

On the following journey, Ling Xiao encountered various monsters. Some had multiple heads and spewed poisonous liquid from their mouths; some were transparent, almost blending into the darkness, and could only be seen when they attacked; and some could control the rocks, turning the entire passage into a maze of death.

In every battle, Ling Xiao relied on his wisdom, courage, and profound understanding of the environment to find a way to defeat the monsters. His dagger danced in the darkness, each swing accurately hitting the monster's vital point. His heart was filled with a desire for the unknown and a love of adventure, which was his driving force to move forward.

The exhaustion of battle and the joy of victory intertwined, Ling Xiao's heart was filled with both the fear of death and the desire to survive. He knew that as long as he could still stand, nothing could stop him from moving forward.

Ling Xiao leaned against the cold stone wall, breathing heavily, the dagger in his hand dripping with the blood of the last monster. His wounds looked particularly hideous in the dim light of the torch, and every breath was accompanied by a tearing pain. He knew that if he didn't treat these wounds quickly, he might not be able to move forward.

Ling Xiao pulled an old parchment from his backpack. It contained a map of the herbal cultivars in the catacombs. He scanned the map, finally settling on a spot marked "Glow Grass." This herb, renowned for its unique fluorescence and potent healing properties, was exactly what he needed.

He carefully put the map away and began to advance along the narrow passage. On the stone walls on either side of the passage, a few stalks of glowing moss occasionally appeared, adding a touch of mystery to the dark space. Ling Xiao's footsteps echoed in the passage, intertwining with his heavy breathing to form a unique rhythm.

His eyes were constantly alert to any movement around him, his dagger in hand ready to respond to any threat. However, the journey was unusually peaceful, with only the sound of dripping water and his own footsteps echoing in his ears. This silence only made him more vigilant, because he knew that in the caves, the most terrifying thing was often not the roaring monsters, but the silent traps and lurking dangers.

After an arduous trek, Ling Xiao finally found the cave where the shimmering grass grew. In the center of the cavern sat a small pool of water, a faint glow floating on the surface, illuminating the surrounding shimmering grass. These herbs emitted a soft green light, like twinkling stars in the night sky, bringing a touch of life to the dark cavern.

Ling Xiao carefully plucked a few stalks of Gloomy Grass, crushed them, and applied them to the wound. The coolness of the herb instantly soothed his pain, and he could feel the wound slowly healing. He leaned against the stone wall, closed his eyes, and allowed his body a brief rest.

Just as Ling Xiao was immersed in this brief moment of peace, he suddenly heard a faint whisper. The sound seemed to come from the depths of the cave, deep and mysterious, its meaning indecipherable. Ling Xiao's heart surged with inexplicable curiosity, and he stood up and walked towards the source of the sound.

As he went deeper, the whispers grew clearer and more rapid. He could sense an ancient and powerful power within them. His heartbeat quickened, and he gripped the dagger tighter. He didn't know what lay behind the voices, but his intuition told him this would be a remarkable discovery.

Finally, he arrived at a vast underground cavern. In the center of the cavern stood a massive stone platform, intricately carved with runes. The whispering sound emanated from within these runes. Standing before the platform, Ling Xiao could sense the powerful energy emanating from the runes.

He reached out and gently touched the runes, instantly feeling a surge of warmth flowing through his body. It was an ancient, mysterious power coursing through his blood, healing his wounds at a visible speed. Ling Xiao stared at his hand in amazement; he could feel this power transforming his body, making him even stronger.

As his power awakened, Ling Xiao felt his senses become sharper. He could hear the breathing of distant monsters and sense subtle changes in the air currents. He knew that this power would help him better cope with the challenges ahead.

He stood before the stone platform, closed his eyes, and allowed his mind to merge with the power. He could sense the source of this power, an ancient being deep within the caverns, whispering to him, imparting ancient knowledge and power.

Ling Xiao opened his eyes, a newfound strength gleaming in them. He knew he was no longer just an ordinary explorer, but a warrior chosen by an ancient power. He would use this power to continue his journey of exploration and uncover the secrets deep within the caverns.

He turned and left the cave, heading deeper into the catacombs. His heart was filled with a desire for the unknown and awe of power. He knew this was just the beginning, and more adventures and challenges awaited him.

Ling Xiao stood deep within the caverns, his body brimming with newly awakened power, his senses becoming incredibly sharp. He could feel every movement of the wind, every faintest sound. He knew this power would be the key to overcoming the challenges that lay ahead. His heart was filled with a desire for the unknown and awe for power, while also embracing a new sense of responsibility.

(End of this chapter)