Weird Survival: I can devour thousands of talents

Chapter 195 194: Don’t order yet!

Ling Xiao stood at the entrance to the catacombs. A cold breeze blew from the deep cavern, carrying the scent of dampness and earth. He tightened his leather armor. The torch in his hand swayed in the wind, casting dancing shadows. This was an unknown, metallic catacombs, legendary for its rich metal deposits, but also for its countless dangers. Ling Xiao took a deep breath and adjusted the backpack on his back, which contained essential survival supplies and some simple digging tools. He knew this expedition could change his fate, or it could leave him trapped in this darkness forever.

His footsteps echoed through the winding passage, each one carefully chosen to avoid alerting any lurking monsters. The walls of the crypt were inlaid with various metal ores, which shimmered faintly, adding a touch of mystery to the deep passage. Ling Xiao's gaze swept over the ores, and a surge of excitement welled up in his heart. If he could safely bring these ores back to the surface, they would be enough to make him a wealthy merchant.

However, as they delved deeper into the caverns, the tension in the air grew. Ling Xiao felt a sense of oppression, as if something was secretly watching him. He tightened his grip on the sword, the runes carved into the hilt appearing eerie in the firelight. This was an ancient sword passed down through his family, said to enhance sword energy and combat evil.

Suddenly, a deep roar erupted from a nearby source, shaking the entire cavern. Ling Xiao paused, listening intently, his heart racing. He knew the voice belonged to someone unfriendly. He quickly extinguished his torch and blended into the darkness, leaving only a pair of vigilant eyes flickering in the darkness.

The monster's aura drew closer, and Ling Xiao sensed a powerful killing intent. He held his breath, his sword gripped by sweat. Suddenly, a massive black shadow burst from the darkness, charging towards Ling Xiao with a bloody hail. It was a golden cave beast, its skin as hard as iron, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

Ling Xiao didn't hesitate a moment. His body instantly exploded with astonishing speed, dodging the Burrow Beast's charge. His movements were fluid and precise, each strike striking at the Burrow Beast's joints, seeking to find its weak spot. However, the Burrow Beast's strength far exceeded his imagination, and each collision sent a numbing sensation through his arms.

The battle dragged on for a long time, Ling Xiao's strength rapidly draining, but his will grew stronger. He knew that only by defeating this monster could he continue his advance. During a fierce confrontation, Ling Xiao discovered the Cave Beast's weakness—its eyes. It was its only weakness, and also his only chance.

He concentrated all his strength and thrust his sword into the Burrow Beast's eyes. The tip of the sword scraped against its metallic skin, making an piercing sound. The Burrow Beast roared in pain and struggled frantically. Ling Xiao didn't flinch. He used all his strength to thrust his sword deeper. Finally, the Burrow Beast collapsed, its body gradually stiffening, and the fierce gleam in its eyes gradually dimmed.

Ling Xiao panted, leaned against the wall, feeling exhausted after the battle.

Ling Xiao stood beside the corpse of the catacombs, panting heavily, his sword dripping with the monster's blood. His gaze shifted from the corpse to the surroundings. The light from the torches flickered on the walls, illuminating patches of strange metallic ore. He knew this battle was only the beginning; the secrets of the catacombs ran deeper than he had imagined.

He carefully circumvented the corpse of the catacombs and continued deeper into the caverns. The passageway grew narrower, and the metal ore on the walls grew richer, gleaming with a strange light. Ling Xiao's heartbeat quickened with each step, and he felt an ancient and mysterious power calling him.

Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks. On the wall ahead, he saw a blurry mural. It depicted strange symbols and patterns, seemingly telling an ancient story. Ling Xiao leaned in closer, his fingers gently touching the mural, feeling the uneven lines.

In the mural, a massive metal giant stood on a barren landscape, clutching a gleaming sword. Surrounding the giant were various monsters, some kneeling in worship, others fleeing in fear. Ling Xiao felt an inexplicable shock surge within him; he sensed a certain power within this mural.

He continued to follow the guidance of the murals, and the passage gradually became wider, and finally came to a huge underground space. Here was a huge cave with a metal altar in the center, carved with the same symbols as the murals.

Ling Xiao approached the altar, his heart nearly stopping. On the altar sat an ancient book, its cover inlaid with a strange metal that emitted a faint glow. He reached out with a trembling hand and slowly turned the pages. The words on the pages were ancient and mysterious. Although he couldn't read them, he could sense the power they held.

At that moment, a powerful force surged from the book, enveloping Ling Xiao. He felt his body being pulled by an invisible force, and his consciousness began to blur. He tried to resist, but the force was too strong, and his body was involuntarily pulled towards the center of the altar.

Suddenly, a dazzling light rose from the altar, illuminating the entire cave. Ling Xiao felt a warm energy envelop his body, and his consciousness gradually became clear. He opened his eyes and found himself standing at the center of the altar, the sword in his hand emitting a strange light.

He felt his body brimming with strength, a power that seemed to merge with his being. He knew it was the power of the metallic grotto, the power bestowed upon him by the ancient book. He gripped the sword tightly, feeling the connection between it and himself, as if they were one.

Ling Xiao's footsteps echoed in the damp caverns, each one feeling exceptionally heavy. The sword in his hand emanated a faint glow, a power gained from the ancient ruins. It not only strengthened his physique but also granted him the ability to sense danger. He knew this power would be the key to his continued progress.

He passed through one winding passage after another. The metal ores on the walls shimmered with a strange light in the torchlight. Ling Xiao could sense the power contained within these ores, which resonated with the new strength within him. He paused, gently touched a piece of ore with his hand, closed his eyes, and felt the flow of power.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed, a strong sense of danger welling up within him. He quickly retreated, instinctively swinging his sword. A burst of sword energy followed, striking the dark figure that lunged out from the darkness. It was a metallic monster, its body even harder than the previous catacombs, its eyes gleaming with an even more violent light.

Ling Xiao's battle with the monster unfolded in the narrow passage. Every collision between sword and monster's body echoed with a resounding metallic clash. The monster's strength was astonishing, and every impact inflicted immense pressure on Ling Xiao. But he didn't retreat. His swordsmanship became even more drastic, each swing carrying with it a newfound strength.

During the battle, Ling Xiao gradually adapted to the flow of his new power. He found he could control his sword energy with ever-greater precision, even sensing the monster's weaknesses. His gaze locked on the monster's abdomen, where the metallic sheen was duller than the rest of its body. He took a deep breath, concentrated all his strength, and stabbed the monster's abdomen with his sword. The tip of his sword pierced through the monster's tough skin and penetrated its internal organs. The monster roared in pain, its body trembling violently. Ling Xiao didn't hesitate. He swiftly drew his sword and swung it again. The sword energy struck the monster like a torrential rain, completely defeating it.

After the battle, Ling Xiao leaned against the wall, panting. His body was covered in sweat, but his eyes gleamed with determination. He knew that this battle was not only a test of his strength, but also a test of his will. He stood up, wiped the blood from his sword, and continued forward.

Ling Xiao's heartbeat pounded fiercely in his chest, each beat like a war drum beating in his ears. He stood deep in the caverns, the torchlight dancing on his resolute face, illuminating his hands gripping the hilt of his sword. Ahead of him lay a dark, open area, the air thick with the cold smell of metal and the stench of monsters.

His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, scanned every corner. On the walls of the caverns, the metal ore shimmered with a faint light, as if telling of its ancient secrets. Ling Xiao knew that every inch of this land could harbor danger, and every shadow could harbor a deadly enemy.

Suddenly, a deep roar shattered the silence of the caverns. The sound echoed through the empty cavern, shaking Ling Xiao's heart. He spun quickly, his sword already unsheathed, the tip pointed at the source of the sound. His eyes flickered with vigilance in the firelight, like a beast on the hunt.

From the darkness, a massive metallic monster slowly emerged. Its body was composed of countless metal fragments, each gleaming with a sharp, cold light. Its eyes were like two burning embers, emitting a fiery red glow. Its steps were heavy and powerful, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath. He could feel the oppression emanating from the monster, the breath of power and death. He knew this would be a life-or-death battle, and he had to give it his all.

The metal monster let out a deafening roar and rushed forward at such speed that Ling Xiao's pupils constricted. His body reacted instinctively, rolling to the side to avoid the monster's impact. The metal monster's claws brushed his cheek, stirring up a sharp gust of wind.

Ling Xiao didn't pause. He quickly stood up, his sword slashing through the air, each strike striking the monster with pinpoint accuracy. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the cave, sparks flying everywhere. Though the monster's body was tough, Ling Xiao's sword left scars on it.

The battle intensified, Ling Xiao and the metal monster engaged in a life-or-death struggle in the catacombs. Ling Xiao's swordsmanship grew ever more powerful, each swing brimming with newfound strength. His body grew lithe and agile in combat, each evasion as graceful as a dance.

Though powerful, the metal monster began to show signs of fatigue under Ling Xiao's continuous attacks. Its attacks became sluggish, its movements less swift. Ling Xiao seized the opportunity and stabbed the monster in the chest. The tip of the sword pierced through the metal shell and penetrated its core.

Ling Xiao's footsteps echoed softly in the deep passages of the catacombs, each akin to a conversation with this ancient land. He gripped his spear tightly in his hand, its tip gleaming coldly in the torchlight. The air in the catacombs was filled with the scent of dampness and earth, mingled with an indescribable sense of oppression. He knew that not only were unknown monsters hidden here, but countless traps awaited unwary explorers.

He carefully scanned every corner of the passage, searching for signs of a trap. Moss and vines woven into the cave walls, and occasionally, drops of water dripped from the stalactites overhead, creating a crisp sound. Ling Xiao's ears were keenly aware of every tiny sound, and his heartbeat quickened with each drip.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on the ground ahead. There was a slab of stone there, a slightly different color than the others, with a tiny crack along its edge. Ling Xiao's brow furrowed, knowing it might be a pressure-activated trap. He approached cautiously, gently touching the stone with the tip of his spear.

The stone slab sank slightly, and Ling Xiao retreated quickly, his spear across his chest, ready to face any possible danger. As the stone slab sank, a mechanical sound echoed, and a volley of sharp arrows suddenly erupted from the arrow slits in the wall. Ling Xiao's body moved through the passage like a phantom, his spear dancing, shooting down the incoming arrows one by one.

After dodging the rain of arrows, Ling Xiao leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, but a determined glint gleamed in his eyes. He knew this was just one of the countless traps in the cave, and he had to be even more careful.

He continued forward, each step more cautious. The passage gradually narrowed, and the vines on the walls grew denser. Ling Xiao's fingers gently touched the vines, feeling their texture and vitality. A surge of respect welled up in his heart. These plants could still survive in such a harsh environment, demonstrating the tenacity of life.

Suddenly, his fingers touched a cold wire. His eyes flashed, and he immediately realized it was a trap. He quickly stepped back, picked up a stone with his spear, and threw it at the wire. The wire was touched, and the stone slabs in the wall suddenly opened, and a stream of venom shot out from them.

Ling Xiao's body reacted instantly, his spear piercing the ground as he leaped into the air, dodging the venomous spray. A surge of relief welled up in his heart; if he hadn't discovered the trap in time, the consequences would have been disastrous.

He continued to explore the cave, and every time he dodged a trap, his nerves were stretched to the limit.

(End of this chapter)