In the center of his brow, the vertical eye-shaped "Surveillance Rune" appeared, and a stream of information materialized in his mind. "Name: Advanced Corpse Beast. A powerful corpse beast evolved from a low-level one. Besides possessing the instincts of a low-level corpse beast, it also has a certain degree of intelligence. Each advanced corpse beast has a unique ability gained through evolution, with a chance of further evolving into an undead."
The creature that had suddenly emerged from the dark corner of the corridor was precisely an advanced corpse beast.
Unlike the previous corpse beast that had evolved a third arm, this one had a bone blade protruding from its right arm. The blade, about a foot long, extended from the muscles on the outer side of the right arm, razor-sharp. It had just used this blade to slash across Ding Longyun's chest, carving a deep wound that nearly disemboweled him.
If Ding Longyun hadn't been warned by Su Li and instinctively retreated, the strike would have cleaved his upper body in two, killing him instantly.
Blood gushed from Ding Longyun's chest as he roared in pain and stumbled back. Su Li shouted in fury and charged forward, swinging his iron rod.
With a sharp *clang*, the advanced corpse beast raised its left arm to block the iron rod. The sound of bones cracking followed as Su Li's blow shattered its left arm.
But for corpse beasts, aside from the fatal weak point of the head, injuries elsewhere, no matter how severe, couldn't kill them.
The advanced corpse beast deliberately sacrificed its left arm to block Su Li's iron rod, then swung its right arm upward, the bone blade slicing from below toward Su Li.
The bone blade's attack was unpredictable, and Su Li sucked in a cold breath.
He had put all his strength into that iron rod strike to save Ding Longyun, leaving his body slightly leaning forward. He couldn't retreat in time. As the bone blade aimed to cut from his abdomen up through his chest, it was a fatal blow—even the healing power of a spirit source wouldn't save him.
There was no time to pull back the iron rod to block below. Su Li had to risk swinging his left hand down, activating the "Glutton's Fangs" to intercept.
In the dim light, the bone blade came too fast. A slight miscalculation would cost Su Li his left hand or even his entire arm.
With a crisp *clang*, the four "Glutton's Fangs" barely caught the upward-sweeping bone blade. Even so, Su Li felt a chill on his abdomen as the blade's tip pierced about a centimeter into his flesh. He immediately kicked out, *bang*, striking the advanced corpse beast and sending it tumbling away.
Watching the advanced corpse beast roll across the floor, Su Li's back was drenched in cold sweat. The split-second exchange had been perilously close, like a brush with death.
This advanced corpse beast was terrifying, even more troublesome than a level-three marine iguana giant lizard.
Ding Longyun, clutching his chest wound with his left hand, roared in fury and swung his steel shovel down at the advanced corpse beast Su Li had kicked away.
The beast hit the ground and rolled immediately. The steel shovel struck the floor with a screech, sparks flying, showing that Ding Longyun, in his rage, had put all his strength into the blow.
Su Li followed up, raining blows with his iron rod on the rolling beast.
With two more *clangs*, the advanced corpse beast raised its right arm, the bone blade angled outward, blocking Su Li's iron rod. Ding Longyun's steel shovel missed and hit the ground, then he swept it horizontally, *smack*, catching the beast's right shoulder. Bones cracked instantly.
The shattered bones in its right shoulder left the arm limp and dangling. Su Li stepped forward, extending his left hand. The "Glutton's Fangs" sliced into the beast's face, carving four deep bloody grooves.
The fine white fur on the beast's face retracted and vanished. Soon, a spirit source emerged from the grooves on its face, flying swiftly into Su Li's forehead, merging with him.
A wave of warmth enveloped his body, the heat flowing to his injuries, accelerating their healing.
Su Li took a deep breath. With this spirit source acquired, he needed just three more to successfully advance.
Sounds came from the corridor ahead—a group of corpse beasts staggering toward them.
Su Li activated the "Surveillance Rune" to observe. Fortunately, they were all low-level corpse beasts. If a group of advanced ones appeared, it would be trouble.
"I need two more. Su Li, how many do you need?" Ding Longyun panted, turning his head, but suddenly heard noises from the stairwell leading down to the thirty-first floor. Several dark figures emerged—water rat beasts charging up from below.
"Xuehui, handle these low-level corpse beasts." Su Li thought to himself that Xu Xuehui, now a level-one spirit source user with at least five hundred jin of strength, had the speed, power, and reflexes befitting her rank. Even as a thirteen-year-old girl, dealing with these lowest-tier corpse beasts shouldn't be hard.
Hearing Su Li's words, Xu Xuehui gripped her hammer nervously and rushed down to stand beside him.
Su Li turned and joined Ding Longyun to face the water rat beasts charging up from the other stairwell.
Ding Longyun had already struck first. Despite his severe chest wound and bleeding, handling the water rat beasts wasn't difficult. He spotted one leaping at him, brought his steel shovel down hard, and knocked it to the ground, its head crushed. A spirit source immediately flew into his forehead.
With the spirit source, Ding Longyun's wound visibly healed. He perked up: "Just one more!" He lunged forward, actively charging at another water rat beast.
At the same moment, Su Li killed a water rat beast, gaining a spirit source. He was now two short of breaking through. Behind them, the group of corpse beasts surged forward, the fastest one reaching Xu Xuehui.
Xu Xuehui, facing a corpse beast alone for the first time, was tense. Seeing the beast charge, she hesitated to attack and instinctively stepped back.
Su Li, watching her closely, sighed inwardly. He spun around and reappeared behind her, his iron rod striking out to break the arm of the beast reaching for her. "Go!" he barked.
At Su Li's voice, Xu Xuehui's courage swelled. She swung her hammer with a firm grip.
*Thud.* The hammer hit the low-level corpse beast's head squarely. With her strength, the blow was powerful, shattering its skull. A spirit source entered Xu Xuehui's mind, and a message appeared in her thoughts.