Weird Survival: I can devour thousands of talents

Chapter 193 192: Don’t order yet!

Ling Xiao stood at the entrance to the catacombs, a dimly lit passageway before him. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth. He took a deep breath, adjusted the bag on his back, gripped his sword tightly, and stepped into the catacombs. As his footsteps echoed in the empty passage, an inexplicable sense of tension spread within him.

The walls of the passage were covered in moss and vines, and occasionally, water dripped from the stalactites overhead, making a crisp sound. Ling Xiao advanced cautiously, taking each step with extreme caution, so as not to alert any monsters lurking in the shadows. His heartbeat gradually quickened with the rhythm of his footsteps, and the longsword in his hand seemed to sense his nervousness and trembled slightly.

As he descended deeper into the caverns, the light grew scarcer, forcing Ling Xiao to light a torch to illuminate the path. The flames danced, casting his shadow on the walls, creating a distorted and eerie effect. He scanned his surroundings, alert for any movement. Suddenly, a low rumbling sound erupted from the depths of the caverns, straining his nerves to the breaking point.

Ling Xiao paused, listening intently. The sound grew closer, as if some enormous creature were approaching him. He gripped his sword tightly, ready to engage. In the firelight, a massive figure gradually emerged: an earth-attributed monster—the Earth Spirit Beast. Its skin was rock-like, its eyes gleaming with an earthy yellow light. Every step it took caused the ground to tremble slightly.

The Earth Spirit Beast roared and attacked Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao quickly retreated, avoiding the Earth Spirit Beast's charge. He knew it was unwise to confront such a monster head-on; he must use his agility and wits to prevail. He began to move nimbly through the cave, searching for the Earth Spirit Beast's weaknesses.

The battle dragged on for a long time. Ling Xiao, with his agility and precise swordsmanship, gradually gained the upper hand. However, the Earth Spirit Beast's power should not be underestimated. Each attack carried overwhelming force. Ling Xiao's strength gradually dwindled, but his will grew stronger. He knew that only by defeating this monster could he continue his search for the legendary treasure.

After a clever dodge, Ling Xiao discovered the Earth Spirit Beast's weak spot: its eyes. That was its only way of sensing the outside world. If he could attack there, perhaps he could secure a decisive victory. Ling Xiao took a deep breath, concentrated his mind, and prepared to launch his final attack.

He rushed at the Earth Spirit Beast like a flash of lightning, his longsword tracing a graceful arc through the air, aiming directly at the Earth Spirit Beast's eyes. The Earth Spirit Beast, sensing the danger, let out a deafening roar and attempted to block the blow with its massive arms. However, Ling Xiao was faster, his body spinning in mid-air, his longsword tracing a perfect arc, piercing the Earth Spirit Beast's eyes.

The Earth Spirit Beast let out a painful howl, its massive body collapsing to the ground with a crash. Ling Xiao stood there, panting heavily, watching as the Earth Spirit Beast's body gradually crumbled to dust and dissipated into the air. He knew this battle was only the beginning; more challenges awaited him in the depths of the caverns.

Ling Xiao picked up a yellowish-brown crystal left behind by the Earth Spirit Beast. This crystal, a crystallization of earth-attributed energy, was a priceless treasure for a warrior cultivating earth-attributed techniques. He stowed the crystal in his bag and continued his journey deeper into the caverns, his heart filled with anticipation for the unknown and a thirst for treasure.

Ling Xiao's footsteps made a soft sound on the slippery ground. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned every corner for hidden danger. The air in the caverns was filled with an oppressive atmosphere, as if even breathing had become heavy. He could sense that this was more than just a simple cave, but a place imbued with ancient power.

Suddenly, a subtle vibration echoed from beneath his feet, as if the heart of the catacombs were beating. Ling Xiao stopped and listened intently. The vibration grew stronger, like the sound of a distant drum, drawing nearer and faster. A sense of foreboding welled up in him: this vibration was the footsteps of the earth beast.

As the tremors intensified, cracks began to appear in the walls of the passage, sending stone chips cascading down. Ling Xiao gripped his sword, ready to engage. The torchlight flickered in the chaotic air currents, casting his shadow on the wall in a distorted and eerie pattern. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner tension, but the oppressive feeling only grew stronger.

Finally, the Earth Beast appeared at the end of the passage. Its massive body almost filled the entire passage, its rock-like skin gleaming coldly in the firelight. Its eyes were like two burning earth-yellow suns, emitting a violent aura. The Earth Beast let out a deafening roar that shook the entire cavern.

Ling Xiao didn't retreat, knowing that retreat would mean death. He brandished his longsword, charging towards the earth beast. The sword's edge shone with streaks of cold light, colliding with the earth beast's rocky body with a clanging metallic sound. With each clash, Ling Xiao felt a tremendous force radiating from the sword, nearly shattering his arm.

The Earth Beast's attacks were violent and direct, each swing of its massive arms carrying the power to destroy everything. Ling Xiao, with his agility, dodged deadly attacks time and time again. Fear was absent from his heart, only the desire for victory and the pursuit of power.

During the fierce battle, Ling Xiao gradually discovered the Earth Beast's weakness. Whenever the Earth Beast launched an attack, its eyes would flash brighter as it concentrated its strength. Ling Xiao realized that this was the source of its power, but also its fatal weakness.

He began to consciously direct the battle, letting the Earth Beast launch continuous attacks while looking for opportunities to approach its eyes. Ling Xiao's swordsmanship became sharper, and each swing of the sword aimed directly at the Earth Beast's eyes, forcing it to retreat continuously.

The battle reached a fever pitch, and both Ling Xiao and the Earth Beast were exhausted. Ling Xiao knew this was his only chance. He gathered all his strength, including the energy of the Earth Crystal, and prepared to launch a final attack.

He rushed towards the Earth Beast like a flash of lightning, his longsword tracing a perfect arc through the air, aiming directly at the Earth Beast's eye. The Earth Beast, sensing the danger, let out a deafening roar and attempted to block the blow with its massive arms. However, Ling Xiao was faster, his body spinning in mid-air, his longsword tracing a perfect arc, piercing the Earth Beast's eye.

The Earth Beast howled in agony, its massive body collapsing to the ground with a crash. Ling Xiao stood there, panting heavily, watching the Earth Beast's body gradually crumble into dust and dissipate into the air. He knew this battle was only the beginning; more challenges awaited him in the depths of the caverns.

Ling Xiao stood at the far end of the caverns, tightly gripping the ochre-colored crystal left by the earth beast. He could feel the power within it slowly coursing through his body. His heart was filled with awe for the unknown and a thirst for treasure. The torchlight flickered in the humid air, casting shadows that danced ghostly across the walls. He took a deep breath, adjusted the bag on his back, and gripped his sword tightly, continuing deeper into the caverns. As Ling Xiao went deeper, the passageway narrowed, the moss and vines covering the walls thickened. The air grew thicker with the scent of earth, mingled with an ancient and mysterious aura. Ling Xiao's footsteps echoed in the empty passage, each step taken with extreme caution, fearing to alert any monsters lurking in the shadows.

Suddenly, a faint light shone from around the corner ahead, causing Ling Xiao's heart to race. He extinguished his torch and approached cautiously. Turning the corner, a vast underground space unfolded before him. In the center lay an ancient relic. A massive crystal, inlaid on the top, emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire space.

The ruins' architectural style was ancient and mysterious, and the stone pillars were covered in strange runes, seemingly telling an ancient story. Ling Xiao was drawn to this ancient aura and slowly walked into the ruins, taking every step with extreme caution to avoid triggering any possible traps.

Ling Xiao's gaze was drawn to the runes on the stone pillar. He reached out and gently touched it, feeling a faint energy emanate from his fingertips. These runes seemed to be an ancient language, recording the secrets of earth power. Ling Xiao closed his eyes, concentrated, and tried to decipher them.

As he touched it, the runes began to glow, illuminating the entire ruins. Rays of light shot out from the runes, weaving in the air to form a complex pattern. A sudden realization welled up in Ling Xiao's mind: these patterns seemed to represent an ancient technique, documenting how to harness the power of earth.

He began to follow the instructions on the pattern, mobilizing the power of the earth-attributed crystal within his body. As he practiced, the energy within him began to flow, resonating with the energy within the ruins. He could feel his strength gradually increasing, and his understanding of the earth attribute deepened.

Just as Ling Xiao was immersed in his cultivation, a low rumbling sound echoed from the depths of the ruins, interrupting his practice. He opened his eyes and saw a massive figure slowly emerging from the shadows of the ruins. Its body was composed of rock, and its eyes shone with an earthy yellow light. This was the guardian of the ruins—the Stone Guardian.

The Stone Guardian roared and attacked Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao quickly retreated, avoiding the Stone Guardian's charge. He knew it was unwise to confront such a monster head-on; he must use his agility and wits to prevail. He began to move nimbly through the ruins, searching for the Stone Guardian's weaknesses.

The battle dragged on for a long time. Ling Xiao, with his agility and precise swordsmanship, gradually gained the upper hand. However, the Stone Guardian's power should not be underestimated; each attack carried overwhelming force. Ling Xiao's strength gradually dwindled, but his will grew stronger. He knew that only by defeating this monster could he continue to explore the secrets of the ruins.

During the fierce battle, Ling Xiao gradually discovered the Stone Guardian's weakness. Whenever the Stone Guardian launched an attack, its eyes would flash brighter as it concentrated its power. Ling Xiao realized that this was the source of its power, but also its fatal weakness.

He began to consciously guide the battle, letting the Stone Guardian launch continuous attacks while looking for opportunities to approach its eyes. Ling Xiao's swordsmanship became sharper, and each swing of the sword pointed directly at the Stone Guardian's eyes, forcing it to retreat continuously.

The battle reached a fever pitch, and Ling Xiao and the Stone Guardian were both exhausted. Ling Xiao knew this was his only chance. He gathered all his strength, along with the energy of the earth-attributed crystal, and prepared to launch a final attack.

He rushed towards the Stone Guardian like a flash of lightning, his longsword drawing a perfect arc in the air, pointing directly at the Stone Guardian's eyes. The Stone Guardian seemed to sense the danger, let out a deafening roar, and tried to block the blow with his huge arms. However, Ling Xiao was faster, his body spinning in the air, and his longsword drew a perfect arc, piercing the Stone Guardian's eyes.

The Stone Guardian howled in agony, its massive body collapsing to the ground with a thud. Ling Xiao stood there, panting heavily, watching the Stone Guardian's body gradually crumble into dust and dissipate into the air. He knew this battle was only the beginning; more challenges awaited him in the depths of the ruins.

Ling Xiao picked up a yellowish-brown crystal left behind by the Stone Guardian. This crystal, a crystallization of earth-attributed energy, was a priceless treasure for a warrior cultivating earth-attributed techniques. He placed the crystal in his bag and continued his journey deeper into the ruins, his heart filled with anticipation for the unknown and a thirst for treasure.

At the center of the ruins, Ling Xiao discovered a massive stone platform upon which rested an ancient book. Its cover was engraved with strange runes, emitting a faint glow. He carefully opened the book, revealing the ultimate secrets of earth power and how to harness it to protect the world.

Ling Xiao's heart was filled with a heavy sense of responsibility. He clutched the ancient book tightly, the runes on its cover gleaming mysteriously in the dim torchlight. Beneath his feet lay the dust left by the recently defeated Stone Guardian, and before him lay a long path leading to the surface. He knew the power within this book was enough to change the fate of the entire world, but it would also become the target of countless greedy individuals.

Ling Xiao slowly walked through the passage leading to the surface, feeling a mixture of excitement at his newfound knowledge and anxiety about the dangers that might lie ahead. The secrets of earth-attributed power recorded in the book had given him a deeper understanding of power, but it also made him a target of public criticism.

The wind in the passage seemed to grow colder, and Ling Xiao pulled his cloak tighter, trying to ward off the chill. He heard the faint sound of footsteps, setting his nerves on edge. He paused, listening, but the sound faded. He shook his head, believing it was an illusion, and continued on his way.

However, when he turned a corner, a group of men in black suddenly appeared in front of him.

(End of this chapter)