Su Li activated the "Surveillance Rune" to quietly observe the snake's information. "Name: Arrow Snake Beast, Level: Three, belongs to the common type of spiritual source beast, a type of python, non-venomous, main attack method is constriction, can evolve into the elite Arrow King Snake." "A level three common beast is perfect for leveling up now, though the numbers are a bit lacking." Su Li felt a secret delight. This non-venomous level three snake posed little threat to them, already at level four, and was the ideal target for farming spiritual sources. The only regret was the limited quantity—though, of course, there might be more Arrow Snake Beasts in other unseen rooms.
Lost in thought, Su Li continued downward, reaching the twenty-eighth floor. Gong Xiao had descended to the twenty-eighth floor ahead of him and stopped to wait, gesturing to ask about their next move. Su Li peered through a balcony on the twenty-eighth floor and immediately spotted a group of Arrow Snake Beasts. There were plenty—at least twenty or thirty in just one room. Based on that, the total number of Arrow Snake Beasts on this floor was likely staggering. "Perfect, more than enough. With this many Arrow Snake Beasts, we can all level up to five." A grin spread across Su Li's face. He then secretly dove deeper to observe the twenty-seventh and twenty-sixth floors. The twenty-seventh floor still held Arrow Snake Beasts, while the twenty-sixth floor revealed a few monkey-like monsters. These monkeys had green fur and webbed feet like aquatic animals. Su Li checked their data and learned they were level four Water Monkey Beasts, also common-type monsters. Su Li decided not to probe further downward. There might be stronger or more numerous monsters below, but for now, these Arrow Snake Beasts were the most suitable. Of course, stirring them up might attract monsters from deeper or stronger layers, but that was unavoidable—they could only be as careful as possible. From experience hunting and luring monsters, Su Li knew that most attracted creatures came from the upper layers; deeper monsters were harder to provoke unless under special circumstances.
He signaled Gong Xiao and Xu Haishui to head up, and the three began ascending. They moved lightly, not disturbing the resting monsters on each floor, and surfaced without incident. As his head broke the water, Su Li let out a long breath. Ding Longyun, waiting in the corridor, quickly asked, "How is it?" "Great. The lower floors are full of level three Arrow Snake Beasts, perfect for us. Gong Xiao, Xu Haishui, get up there. I'll lure them up." Xu Haishui nodded, grabbed the window ledge, and climbed in. This time, Gong Xiao didn't argue with Su Li. Given his superior strength, it made sense for him to take the risk of luring the monsters. Seeing Gong Xiao also enter the corridor, Su Li took a deep breath and submerged again. Luring the Arrow Snake Beasts was simple. He charged straight toward the balcony on the twenty-ninth floor, raising his cleaver to strike the nearest coiled Arrow Snake Beast. The sleeping beast jolted awake, its triangular head snapping up, but before it could assess the situation, Su Li's blade came down on its head. Blood gushed out, startling the other Arrow Snake Beasts coiled nearby. A spiritual source flew from the decapitated beast's corpse and sank into Su Li's forehead. "Level 4 Spiritual Source User: Spiritual Source 19/50" Having killed one, Su Li didn't linger. He turned and surged back toward the surface. Behind him, seven or eight Arrow Snake Beasts emerged. As their coiled bodies unspooled, Su Li saw how long they were—the shortest over four meters, slender and elongated like drawn arrows. They shot through the water with startling speed, bodies straight as arrows. Now he understood why they were called "Arrow Snake Beasts."
The moment Su Li broke the surface, two Arrow Snake Beasts were on him. Their attack was straightforward: once they caught up, their slender bodies immediately coiled around the prey, constricting with immense force. Though not thick, their crushing strength could even warp steel pipes. Su Li felt one wrap around his right leg instantly, but his reflexes were faster. His left hand extended, and the ten-centimeter "Glutton Fang" appeared, slashing downward. The beast, having just coiled but not yet applied force, was severed cleanly by the fang. "Level 4 Spiritual Source User: Spiritual Source 20/50" Killing it, Su Li kicked off, his right hand gripping the cleaver and reaching for the corridor window ledge. With a heave, he pulled himself from the water, flipping midair. Below, another Arrow Snake Beast shot from the water like an arrow, lunging at Su Li. Gong Xiao and Ding Longyun by the corridor acted almost simultaneously. Ding Longyun swung his steel rod, while Gong Xiao extended her left hand, releasing a green vine with leaves—her special ability, "Entangling Vine." The vine shot out faster than Ding Longyun's rod, snaring the beast's head as it burst from the water. Gong Xiao yanked her left hand, pulling the four-meter-long creature from the water and slamming it toward the corridor. Her right hand, wielding a military spike, swung in tandem with the vine. Blood sprayed midair as the beast, caught mid-flight, was severed in two. Its corpse splashed back into the water, and a spiritual source emerged, sinking into Gong Xiao's forehead. Su Li landed steadily on the corridor. From the water, sounds rang out as one Arrow Snake Beast after another burst forth, lunging at the group. These beasts moved swiftly in water but slowed significantly on land. The corridor was narrow. The five stood side by side, watching seven or eight Arrow Snake Beasts erupt from the water and shoot through the windows toward them, all striking out. "These Arrow Snake Beasts are non-venomous, level three spiritual source beasts—nothing to fear." Su Li casually swung his cleaver, reaping another spiritual source. The severed beast's corpse fell into the water, blood seeping out, drawing attention from more monsters below. The seven or eight beasts that charged up were easily dispatched. Aside from Xu Xuehui, the other four each claimed a kill. The corpses dropped into the water, staining it red with blood. Shadows stirred beneath the surface as more Arrow Snake Beasts emerged, devouring their dead kin. The underwater currents churned. More Arrow Snake Beasts attacked the four in the corridor, shooting from the water like arrows, lunging at them. Their numbers swelled past thirty in an instant.