Tenth-level Great Demon

The moment Lin Yi saw the first drop, his eyes lit up.

"Heart-Devouring Wolf Codex?"

After using this, it seemed he would be able to inspect the Heart-Devouring Wolf's level, Qi-Blood, and other attributes, just like the Game Detection Art.

No wonder he was a game player yet couldn't even detect a monster's level or condition. So he needed to obtain the corresponding Monster Codex first.

However, when Gu Chenghu saw the drops, his brows lifted slightly.

Both items were White Quality, and one of them could only be used by a Newborn. This undoubtedly disappointed him somewhat.

What a pity. If two Green Quality demon beast materials had dropped today, perhaps he could gather the materials needed to forge a Spiritual Artifact in just a week.

Then he could show off in front of that brat Gu Man.

Gu Chenghu shook his head slightly and said to Lin Yi, "Qingshan, as we agreed before, if there's an odd number of drops, I'll compensate you with Contribution Points. If it's an even number, you get half. Choose—which two do you want?"

Which two?

Lin Yi's gaze swept over the four drops. The most valuable ones to him were undoubtedly the Green Quality Heart-Devouring Wolf Heart and the Heart-Devouring Wolf Codex.

But Gu Chenghu had done most of the work this time. Lin Yi was not an ungrateful person, so naturally he would not take the most valuable items.

"Captain, I want the Monster Blood and the codex."

"Fine."

Seeing how sensible Lin Yi was, Gu Chenghu smiled.

Although today's gains were not as great as he had imagined, the Green Quality Heart-Devouring Wolf Heart was still a good item, enough to compensate for today's losses.

Upon hearing that Lin Yi could take half, the other members of the Militia Team looked at him enviously.

Newborns really had it good. He had barely contributed, yet he could get two drops, while they fought for their lives and could not get a single treasure.

But without Lin Yi, even if they obtained two intact Heart-Devouring Wolf corpses, they would have no way to harvest materials from them.

Because Monsters were different from ordinary animals.

After a Monster died, the demon power remaining in its corpse would rapidly disperse, contaminating the entire body. Its essence would also gradually leak away.

Unless a master skilled in dissecting Monsters was present to slaughter and carve it up on the spot, perhaps one or two important organ materials could be preserved from the wolf corpse. But in all of Ancient Pool Village, it was said that only the Village Chief possessed such skill.

Without a Newborn, even if their Militia Team went through great effort to kill a Monster, they likely would gain nothing.

Therefore, the Militia Team members did not resent Lin Yi for receiving two dropped treasures. Instead, they harbored their own thoughts. Next time they encountered a weaker Monster, they would bring Lin Yi along to kill it so they could share in the treasure too.

Gu Chenghu wrapped the Blood Food that had not been too badly damaged in oil paper again. Seeing that the injured team member had finished bandaging himself, he waved his hand. "All right. The wilderness is unsafe. Clean this place up and hurry back to the village!"

Lin Yi put the Monster Blood he had obtained into his Spatial Backpack, then held the Heart-Devouring Wolf Codex in his hand.

Ding! Player Green Mountains Never Age has discovered the Heart-Devouring Wolf Codex. Unlock it? After unlocking it, the player will gain the ability to inspect Heart-Devouring Wolf attributes.

"Unlock!"

The codex in Lin Yi's hand then turned into a streak of white light and vanished.

After the codex disappeared, Lin Yi did not feel anything. Gu Chenghu and the others beside him were not surprised either. After all, Newborns were different from them and were favored by the gods.

However, just as Lin Yi and the others climbed out of the sunken pit, they heard something rapidly flying toward them through the distant sky.

Gu Chenghu looked up, and his expression changed drastically.

"Not good, it's a Mirage Crow! It was probably attracted by the smell of the Blood Food I took out earlier!"

Mirage Crow!

Lin Yi's heart jolted.

That was a Level 10 Great Demon!

Although he had never seen a Mirage Crow before, Gu Chenghu had introduced them earlier. Level 10 Monsters were all Great Demons, brimming with demon power. If one appeared, even the entire Militia Team joining forces might not be able to defeat it.

Among them, the Mirage Crow was a Great Demon born at Level 10 and one of the most dangerous Monsters outside Ancient Pool Village.

Lin Yi looked up and saw a black shadow diving down from the clouds.

"Run!"

Without a second thought, Lin Yi instinctively bolted forward. Just as he was about to use the Amulet of Extreme Speed in his hand, he felt a large hand lift him up and tuck him under an arm.

It was Gu He beside him.

Gu He was Level 7, with many of his attribute points invested in Agility and Constitution, so Gu Chenghu had assigned him to stay beside Lin Yi.

Because Gu Chenghu had instructed him to take Lin Yi and run whenever danger arose, the moment he heard that a Mirage Crow had appeared, he immediately carried Lin Yi and charged toward the village.

Gu He was not slow. In only a few breaths, he had carried Lin Yi more than fifty meters away.

Just then, an incredibly piercing series of caws rang across the sky.

Upon hearing the sound, the fleeing Militia Team members immediately felt splitting headaches and lost their hearing. Many of them froze, then tumbled to the ground one after another.

Gu He was also affected by the Mirage Crow's cry and violently threw Lin Yi onto the ground ahead.

"Fuck!"

Lin Yi rolled several times across the ground.

Dust flew everywhere as Lin Yi covered his ears and climbed to his feet.

When he touched them with both hands, blood was flowing from both ears. His eardrums might have ruptured.

Then he checked his Attribute Panel. His Health Points had fallen directly from 97 to 53.

Lin Yi looked shocked. The Mirage Crow's cry was terrifying. Even from hundreds of meters away, it had such destructive power.

If it happened two more times, his Level 1 Health Points would probably be screamed away completely.

It truly was a Level 10 Great Demon!

Fortunately, Gu Chenghu saw everyone's miserable state. He roared, raised the Dragon Roar Saber, and charged toward the Mirage Crow in the air.

"All of you, get the hell back to the village and call for help! I can't hold it off by myself for long!"

At Gu Chenghu's shout, everyone hurriedly climbed up and staggered toward Ancient Pool Village.

Soon, Lin Yi and the others made it back onto the city wall.

From afar, Gu Chenghu was entangled with the Mirage Crow in the air on a small hill. However, using its ability to fly, the Mirage Crow drove Gu Chenghu back again and again.

Moreover, the Mirage Crow seemed to be after the Blood Food in Gu Chenghu's hand, repeatedly attacking the bundle on his back.

Seeing this, Gu Shan shouted ahead, "Captain, just throw away the Blood Food!"

Gu Chenghu could hear him, but ignored him. The bundle on his back held not only the Blood Food he had bought on credit, but also the Heart-Devouring Wolf Heart he had just obtained.

If he threw everything away, he would lose even his underwear today.

But a Level 10 Great Demon was indeed difficult to deal with. He also possessed Level 10 combat power, yet he could only barely fend off the Mirage Crow's attacks with the Dragon Roar Saber in his hand and his exquisite saber techniques.

As time passed, the Mirage Crow's attacks became increasingly fierce. It also knew this was human territory, and lingering any longer could be dangerous.

At that moment, the sound of an arrow slicing through the air came from nearby.

Lin Yi turned around and saw a tall man in armor standing beside him. The man's long hair hung loose, and the massive two-meter bow in his hands had already been drawn into the shape of a Full Moon.

Another arrow shot forth. The Mirage Crow hurriedly dodged, but the arrow grazed it and knocked several feathers loose.

"Captain Lie Hai!"

"The captain is here! Our captain is saved!"

Everyone cheered in delight.

Only then did Lin Yi learn that the man standing beside him was Gu Liehai, captain of Militia Squad One and the strongest person in all of Ancient Pool Village aside from the Village Chief and the Three Village Elders.

Amid everyone's shock and joy, Gu Liehai had already fired five arrows in succession.

Each arrow was as fast as lightning, shooting straight at the Mirage Crow hundreds of meters away.

The Mirage Crow was struck by one arrow and immediately let out a mournful cry, flapping its wings as it rapidly flew upward.

Gu Liehai narrowed his eyes and drew another arrow. "Chenghu, keep it here. Otherwise, there'll be endless trouble!"

"Don't worry, that beast won't get away!"

After being attacked by the Mirage Crow for so long, Gu Chenghu had accumulated a great deal of rage. He pulled out the blood-red Divine Talisman Gu Shan had brought earlier and hurled it into the sky.

The blood-red Divine Talisman erupted with brilliant light, scattering red radiance in every direction like a Little Sun.

Bathed at close range in the red light, the Mirage Crow shrieked. Its entire body seemed to have been scorched black as it fell from the sky.

This was the Demon Suppressing Talisman, one of Ancient Pool Village's Divine Talismans with the greatest killing power against Monsters. Even Village Elder Gu Yuan could only produce two in a month.

If Gu Liehai had not come to assist, and the two of them could not kill the Mirage Crow with the Demon Suppressing Talisman, Gu Chenghu originally would not have wanted to use this talisman.

The next moment, Gu Chenghu raised the Dragon Roar Saber and delivered a charged slash.

Pfft!

The Mirage Crow's blackish-brown feathers were as hard as steel, and the slash only cut halfway through.

At that moment, Gu Liehai's arrow flew in from afar and pierced through the Mirage Crow's wing.

"Kid, I'm taking you to kill a Monster!"

Seeing that the Mirage Crow was already a sure kill with no chance of escape, Gu Liehai on the city wall immediately grabbed Lin Yi and leaped down.

"Fuck..."

Before Lin Yi could prepare himself, Gu Liehai had brought him onto the battlefield.

At this moment, the Mirage Crow on the ground was soaked in blood, with several saber wounds across its abdomen that Gu Chenghu had just inflicted.

Gu Liehai narrowed his eyes, nocked an arrow, and fired at close range, severing the Mirage Crow's throat.

After suffering so many heavy injuries, the Mirage Crow that had been so arrogant moments ago now lay like a dead dog, barely clinging to life.

Gu Chenghu finally let out a breath. "Lie Hai, good thing you came in time. Otherwise, your brother here might have been done for."

"You had a Demon Suppressing Talisman. Who else can you blame for being reluctant to use it?"

"Hehe, the Divine Talismans were bought on credit. Best not to use them if I can avoid it. But we made quite a haul today. Aside from those two Heart-Seizing Wolves earlier, I never expected we'd slaughter a Great Demon too."

As he spoke, Gu Chenghu handed the Dragon Roar Saber to Lin Yi.

"Qingshan, you struck it rich today. No other Newborn has your luck. Treat us to a meal someday."

"Thank you, Captains. Anything you say."

Looking at the Mirage Crow on the ground with only one breath left, Lin Yi flashed a broad grin.

Although there had been some danger today, the outcome was fortunately not bad. Another Monster had come for him to kill.

And it was even a Level 10 Great Demon.

He just wondered what a Level 10 Great Demon could drop.

Lin Yi raised the Dragon Roar Saber high and viciously plunged it into the Mirage Crow's neck where the arrow had struck.

Ding! You have killed a Level 10 Mirage Crow and gained 100 Experience Points!

100 Experience Points.

Good lord, this Great Demon gave far more Experience Points than the Level 9 Heart-Devouring Wolf.

Lin Yi checked his Attribute Panel. His experience bar had accumulated 300 points, enough to raise him to Level 2 or even Level 3.

However, Lin Yi did not intend to level up for the moment. Liu Hong had mentioned in his Diary that in Apocalypse World, killing monsters above one's level granted increased experience.

Now that he was running with the Militia Team, he only needed to land the final blow to gain experience, so leveling up now was not worthwhile.

However, from how he had nearly been killed by the Mirage Crow's cry today, his Health Points were truly too low.

If he continued following the Militia Team, he needed to find more ways to preserve his life.

As he pondered, the dead Mirage Crow transformed into three drops.

Mirage Crow Iron Feather · Green: Rare material. The hardest feather from the wings of a Great Demon Mirage Crow. Can be forged into a Spiritual Artifact.

Intermediate Demon Blood · Green: An item dropped by an Intermediate Monster. Contains violent, chaotic demon power and has a wide range of uses.

Mirage Sound · Green: Records the demon art of the Mirage Crow clan. Extremely rare. After learning it, one can emit a sound that pierces the ears and shakes the soul. The more proficient one becomes in this art, the greater the power and attack range of Mirage Sound. After mastering the demon art, one can pull those attacked into a fallen illusion.

Note: Using this demon art before the Mirage Crow clan may invite the endless wrath of the Mirage Crows.

When Lin Yi saw the drops, his face lit up with joy.

Three Green drops, and there was even a demon art!

He had never heard that Monsters could drop demon arts. He just did not know whether Newborns could learn them.

But according to the rules, out of three drops, he could receive at least one.

Seeing that three items had dropped, Gu Chenghu also smiled. "Not bad. Pretty lucky. There are exactly three of us, so how about one each?"

After saying that, Gu Chenghu looked at Gu Liehai.

However, Gu Liehai frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with the one-each distribution.

Gu Chenghu immediately frowned. "Lie Hai, don't make me break my word. I already promised Qingshan his share."

Gu Liehai ignored Gu Chenghu and looked at Lin Yi beside him instead. "All three of us contributed to killing the Mirage Crow, so one each is indeed fair. However, I urgently need two of these three drops. Your name is Qingshan, right? Can you give me your share? I can compensate you."

Compensation?

Lin Yi raised his brows and pondered.

He wanted all three drops as well, especially the demon art Mirage Sound, which seemed extremely valuable.

Noticing Lin Yi's gaze, Gu Liehai asked hesitantly, "You... want the demon art?"

Lin Yi nodded. "Yes, Captain. What exactly is a demon art? Can Newborns use it?"

Gu Liehai answered, "You can, but the cost is quite high. Demon arts are like our humans' External Skills, except they are abilities exclusive to Monsters. If humans want to activate a demon art, it generally requires twice as much Qi-Blood. Furthermore, using demon arts too often will gradually cause Demon Transformation, until you become neither human nor Monster..."

"You're only Level 1 right now, so you probably haven't learned an External Skill yet. How about this? Give up your distribution rights this time and join our squad. I can directly teach you my External Skill..."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chenghu could no longer sit still.

"Hey, Lie Hai, don't poach people right in front of me. Our squad only has two Newborns. If you take him, what am I supposed to do? Besides, Brother Yongqiang already promised Qingshan that once he reaches Level 4, he can learn the Blazing Sun Saber Technique from him..."

After hearing this, Gu Liehai looked at Lin Yi. "The Blazing Sun Saber Technique is indeed good, but the External Skill I can teach you is a Green Quality archery technique, superior to the Blazing Sun Saber Technique. Its quality can also make up for the Mirage Sound demon art you want."

"Th-this..."

Seeing that Lin Yi was still somewhat undecided, Gu Liehai increased his offer. "Besides that, I see you still lack a weapon. I once used a Bear Sinew Great Bow. Although it does not qualify as a Spiritual Artifact, it is still a highly valuable weapon. If you agree, aside from my archery External Skill, I'll give you the Bear Sinew Great Bow as well. Of course, whether you want to switch Militia Teams is entirely up to you."

Hearing this, Lin Yi was truly tempted.