An invasion from the Abyss? I, a demonic cultivator, laughed.

Chapter 18 Chu Xiu's Plan: Rapid Upgrade!
"what?"

Shen Zhuo's smile froze on his face.

"Why, why?" He seemed completely unprepared for Chu Xiu's refusal, his face full of confusion. "Our team has a water source, support classes, perfumers can mask scents, tailors can make clothes, and we can cooperate to hunt ghouls. What's wrong with that?"

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Chu Xiu shook his head, “It’s just that I’m used to being free on my own, and…”

A faint smile appeared on his face: "I think the weapons I make can fetch a better price."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned, and Shen Zhuo's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Chu Xiu's meaning was simple: joining the team and following your theory of mutual help meant providing assistance for free.

But Chu Xiu felt that the weapons he made were far more valuable than the help he could get from the other team members, so it wasn't worth it!
However, this is also true. In this apocalypse, what can a tailor or a perfumer compare to a good weapon or a sturdy suit of armor?
Shen Zhuo's lips twitched, and he forced a smile, saying, "Our team also has a contribution point system, which reasonably measures the contribution of each member and uses it to exchange for corresponding supplies."

"Is it really reasonable? Who sets the price? You?" Chu Xiu retorted.

Shen Zhuo: "We can trade freely like in a market."

Chu Xiu: "I still want to act alone."

Shen Zhuo couldn't hold back any longer: "Then what's the difference between that and not joining at all?"

Chu Xiu laughed: "Yeah, what's the difference between that and not joining?"

Shen Zhuo was speechless.

He didn't think that much about it. In his view, it was perfectly normal for people in a team to work together and help each other. Why bother to be so particular?
Furthermore, as a support class, how can he survive alone in this abyss without the protection of combat classes?

Support characters like Xu Hang and Song Ziping were begging to join the team, afraid of being abandoned!
"That Chu Xiu guy is really short-sighted," Shen Zhuo thought to himself.

However, since Chu Xiu wanted to be a lone wolf, he wouldn't force him.

"Whatever you want," Shen Zhuo said.

"Then, I won't join either."

At this moment, Yunlu suddenly whispered.

She looked at Chu Xiu timidly: "Classmate Chu has helped me a lot, I can't abandon him."

After he finished speaking, everyone looked at each other in surprise, and Shen Zhuo was clearly no longer calm.

It doesn't matter if Chu Xiu doesn't come. His bone weapon is just icing on the cake. Without him, Shen Zhuo's team can still hunt ghouls and level up. Once they get some equipment, they won't need Chu Xiu anymore.

But Yunlu can't leave! Her food perception ability is too important! In this resource-scarce post-apocalyptic world, food is the hardest currency, and it must be firmly in our own hands!
Shen Zhuo spoke up somewhat anxiously: "Yun, think it over carefully. Being with us will undoubtedly greatly improve your safety. Even if you are grateful to Chu, you can repay him in other ways. There is no need to take risks with him!"

Shen Zhuo's words made Yun Lu hesitate.

At this moment, Li Shan glanced at Shen Zhuo's expression and suddenly tugged at Yun Lu's sleeve: "Yun Lu, we've all joined Brother Shen's team. If you don't come with us, you'll be the bait!"

"Ah!" Yunlu exclaimed, turning to look at Chu Xiu, stammering, "Really? You want me to be... to be bait?"

Looking at the frightened Yunlu, Chu Xiu couldn't help but chuckle.

“Of course it’s true,” he said.

"Then, then I..." Yunlu lowered her head, her little face full of struggle.

“Stay with us. Your talent is very important. Brother Shen will put you in the safest position,” Li Shan advised again.

“Not bad,” Shen Zhuo nodded. “I guarantee that as long as I am alive, I will ensure that you pass the trial safely.”

"Well," Yunlu glanced cautiously at Chu Xiu, who seemed completely unconcerned, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, and whispered, "Alright then."

Upon hearing his agreement, Shen Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief and cast an appreciative glance at Li Shan, who chuckled foolishly, seemingly quite pleased with himself for making a good impression on the new boss.

"Alright, now that everyone has made their decision, and it's getting late, let's go down for dinner. We were lucky today; we killed quite a few mutated rats, which should be enough for us."

Shen Zhuo's face regained its smile, his gaze lingering on Chu Xiu for a moment before a victor's smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Since you are unwilling to join, I will not force you. You can eat with us this meal, but you will have to exchange your talent for it later."

After saying that, he walked downstairs on his own, and the others followed closely behind.

In an instant, Chu Xiu was left all alone.

He stood silently in the center of the empty rooftop, looking particularly pitiful, like an orphan abandoned by the world.

Yunlu looked back several times, unable to bear it, and even Guan Ke hesitated, as if he wanted to say something more.

But in the end, they all went downstairs.

However, the moment everyone disappeared completely, Chu Xiu couldn't help but smile.

"This is so great!"

"Acting is quite tiring."

"But it was worth it to get rid of those three burdens so perfectly."

Actually, besides striving for benefits, there is another more important reason for not joining a team: it allows one to ditch others.

In dangerous environments, people will instinctively stick together.

However, for Chu Xiu, others not only offer little help but also become a burden. After upgrading and acquiring the +5 Energy Absorption Bone Armor, Chu Xiu is fully capable of hunting ghouls alone. Due to the significant difference in physical constitution between him and others, his teammates only hinder his efficiency.

They only managed to kill five ghouls after a whole day's work, which gives you an idea of ​​the situation.

Not to mention, they'll also take away your experience.

The reason they maintained the four-person cooperation before was solely to keep Yunlu around to help him find food.

Now it's great! Let Yunlu go with others to get food, and we'll exchange our abilities for it. This perfectly solves the problem. Not only are we no longer a burden, but more importantly, we can save a lot of time for leveling up!

Therefore, Chu Xiu was more than happy for Yun Lu to leave. It would be troublesome if she were determined to follow him.

He wasn't afraid of Shen Zhuo maliciously lowering the price; at worst, he would just rob him.

Chu Xiu, who leveled up on his own, was confident that he could quickly surpass the others.

Wild dogs hunt better when they stick together, but tigers will only be a hindrance when they mix with wild dogs.

Acting alone now may increase the risk in the short term, but in the long run, the improvement of strength will enhance the ability to withstand future changes!
The pros and cons need to be considered comprehensively. We cannot always pursue absolute certainty and be unwilling to take any risks!

Of course, if things don't go as smoothly as he expected, Chu Xiu wouldn't mind turning around and joining Shen Zhuo's team.

Being shameless is a basic quality of demonic cultivators.

"Now, let's test whether my idea is correct."

Chu Xiu went downstairs and looked out the window. The sun had already set halfway down, and there was still about an hour and a half before it got completely dark.

This is a good opportunity for him to practice.

He put on the bone armor and descended the stairs. He made no attempt to lighten his steps; the crystalline bone fragments clattered against each other, making a clanging sound.

Upon reaching the fifteenth floor, a giant hand suddenly emerged from a corner and slammed heavily into Chu Xiu's chest!
"Oh!"

With a loud bang, Chu Xiu was knocked back several steps by the enormous impact.

But he quickly stopped, a smile appearing on his face hidden beneath the horned helmet.

That's it?

The ghoul's full-force sneak attack struck his armor without even a crack, and its energy-absorbing properties directly neutralized at least 60% of the impact.

This is the power of the +5 Energy Absorption Bone Armor!
On the contrary, the hand that had attacked the ghoul had several small holes pierced by the spikes on the armor, and was now staring at its own hand in confusion.

This feels off!

Seeing the ghoul rushing towards him, Chu Xiu had a sudden thought and equipped the ghoul necklace.

Instantly, his physical attributes increased by another 0.7 points! With a kick, his strength, nearly double that of the first hunt, suddenly erupted, sending the ghoul flying!
"boom!"

The ghoul's body flew backward and crashed into the wall. Just as it tried to get up, Chu Xiu's bone spear arrived!
The ghoul reached out to defend itself, but Chu Xiu's charged attack, now twice as powerful, was beyond its ability to stop. With a "thud," the bone spear pierced right through the ghoul!

"Ho ho."

The ghoul's tenacious vitality made it struggle, but Chu Xiu held firm against the bone spear, pinning it firmly to the wall.

Under the influence of the [Bleeding] trait, the ghoul's struggles became increasingly weak, and after a minute, it stopped moving completely.

[Slaughtering living beings, Professional Experience +62]

[Current Experience: 282/400]

"call."

Chu Xiu let out a soft breath.

Just as expected, it was simple, easy, and without any surprises.

He does indeed have the ability to hunt ghouls alone; with his +5 energy absorption armor, they pose almost no threat to him.

Without anyone else around, I definitely gained a lot more experience.

"However, if you are surrounded by multiple ghouls, there will still be some danger!"

"So we still need to be cautious for now. Once we level up again, or when the Bone Armor is upgraded to +7, we can speed up the hunting process."

"Upgrade is just around the corner!"

Chu Xiu didn't think too much about it and continued searching for traces of the ghoul in the apartment building.

Twenty-five minutes later, he killed another one.

Just fifteen minutes later, another one was killed!
At that moment, the notification sound that Chu Xiu had been waiting for finally rang!

[Level Up!]

Current Rank: Mortal Rank 3

(End of this chapter)