446: Chapter 445 Leave the rest to me

Cai Hou said he was sorry, but he had clearly been eyeing the high-grade life essence for some time.

However, Chu Xuan didn't mind.

Everyone wants treasures; it was nothing unusual.

Since the other party was willing to act as a pathfinder in exchange, Chu Xuan didn't mind obliging him; he had plenty left anyway.

"Fat Pig, you go first!"

Cai Hou pointed and chuckled, "We acted like cowards while he was alive and didn't get to screw him over. Now that he's dead, we should give him a piece of our minds to vent some frustration."

"Alright, watch my Great Pig Charge!"

Fat Pig patted his chest, puffed out his belly, and charged straight ahead. His entire body shimmered with an oily sheen, turning a jade-like color.

Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey flickered and dove straight into the ground, vanishing from sight.

Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!

Seeing Fat Pig charging at him, Long Shan's right hand, which had been tucked in his pocket, suddenly shot out and transformed into a thick tentacle, lashing out at Fat Pig like a whip.

Fat Pig's forward momentum slowed instantly. Though he forced himself to keep charging, Long Shan retreated rapidly while continuously whipping and stabbing with his arm.

In just a single exchange, Fat Pig's entire body was lashed until his skin split and flesh flew.

"Watch my Flying Pig in the Sky!"

Enraged, Fat Pig suddenly leaped high into the air, crashing down toward Long Shan's head like Mount Tai pressing down.

As he took flight, his speed increased several times over, and the jade-like sheen on his skin grew even more brilliant.

Long Shan had no time to dodge and was crushed flat by the descending Fat Pig.

Boom!!

A violent roar echoed as the ground trembled.

The Night Watchers in the distance, who could barely see with their glow sticks, missed the scene, but Chu Xuan saw it clearly.

The moment Fat Pig's belly crushed his head, Long Shan's mere 100 health points were emptied in the blink of an eye, and his body exploded.

"I just got the hang of Earth Burrowing, and it's over already?" Cai Hou emerged from the ground nearby and pulled Fat Pig up, his face filled with surprise.

At this moment, the dozens of bone-deep whip marks on Fat Pig were the least of his problems. The truly terrifying part was that his body looked as if it had been violently struck by a heavy object.

His bones were caved in, and his flesh was a mangled mess.

"Fat Pig, how are you? It was just a 100-health point Long Shan—and a defective one at that. How could he injure you like this?!"

Skinny Monkey turned pale with shock.

"I... was hurt... by myself..." Big Pig said haltingly. "I feel like... I took a hit from my own Flying Pig in the Sky..."

Big Pig kept spitting out blood and foam.

"Open your mouth."

Chu Xuan strode over and tilted the greed tank, pouring a large amount of high-grade life essence into Fat Pig's mouth.

Fat Pig's eyes bulged like copper bells.

As the massive surge of life force entered him, Fat Pig's injuries healed slowly, but the worsening of his condition was finally halted.

"It seems the Eerie Clones appearing here not only possess a skill of the person they've mimicked but also have a damage reflection skill! No matter what damage they take, it's returned to the attacker..." Cai Hou mused.

"It's not that the damage taken is returned, but that the attack itself is returned to the attacker," Chu Xuan said softly.

"Is there a difference?" Cai Hou asked, puzzled.

Chu Xuan tilted his chin. "If it were identical damage, then since Long Shan died, wouldn't Fat Pig have died too?"

"True," Cai Hou said thoughtfully. "So, it's more like Fat Pig took the hit from his own 'Flying Pig in the Sky'."

After Chu Xuan had poured more than three catties of the liquid into him, Fat Pig's condition improved, and he was able to stand up.

Although he hadn't fully regained his combat strength, full recovery was now only a matter of time.

Then, the group continued downstairs.

When they reached the fourth floor, footsteps echoed from nearby once again.

"You're all going to die!" A crazed laughter echoed.

Chu Xuan looked toward the sound and saw Shen Ba's form gradually manifesting in the depths of the darkness, staggering toward them.

"Let me try again to see if these Eerie Clones have any other dangers besides damage reflection."

Cai Hou took a deep breath. "Also, I want to see if my current strength is enough to contend with Shen Ba."

As he spoke, Cai Hou dove into the ground again.

The advancing Shen Ba suddenly paused and then leaped away.

Right then, Cai Hou's figure sprang out from the spot where he had just stood, his hands having somehow turned into sharp blades.

Shen Ba narrowly avoided the upward throat-slitting strike.

"Die!"

Suddenly, over a dozen afterimages of Shen Ba appeared, attacking Cai Hou simultaneously.

But at that moment, Cai Hou dove back into the ground like a clay ox entering the sea, vanishing once more.

All of Shen Ba's attacks missed.

However, before Shen Ba could switch targets, Cai Hou's figure kept leaping out from underground as if teleporting, specifically targeting Shen Ba's vital points.

The air was filled with the sounds of roars and the clashing of metal.

In just over ten seconds, Shen Ba had lost all his blood. He finally collapsed to the ground and dissipated into a thick black mist.

"That was exhilarating!"

Cai Hou laughed heartily.

By now, Cai Hou was covered in blood, with fine wounds all over his body.

These injuries weren't inflicted by Shen Ba; rather, every attack he landed on Shen Ba was reflected back onto himself.

Having finally confirmed this, Cai Hou breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "This way, our chances are much better."

He suggested, "When we encounter danger next, we can take turns. Against Eerie Clones with only 100 health points, our odds are great. It's just a matter of taking some hits, as long as we have enough of the healing wine..."

"There's no need for that."

Chu Xuan finished pouring the liquid for Cai Hou and slowly walked downstairs. "From here on, leave everything to me."

As he spoke, he led the group to the third floor.

The one they encountered on this floor was none other than Li Na.

"I want you to pay with your life..."

Upon seeing Chu Xuan, Li Na's expression turned fierce, and she charged straight at him.

Clang!!

Several Slashes flew out.