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

Chapter 33 Super Heavy Armor!
"The second layer of restrictions has been unlocked!"

Chu Xiu focused his mind expectantly, and immediately three options appeared before him.

[Needle Spikes] The spikes on the outer armor are now sharper, and when attacked, they will activate an explosive restraint that launches them out (Power: 2.0).

[Heavy Armor] The bone thickness has been increased, and the overall structure has been readjusted. At the cost of some flexibility, the defensive capabilities have been greatly improved (Protection +4.8, Energy Absorption +1.0, Spikes +0.6, Weight +16kg, Joint mobility is slightly restricted).
[Power] The current Bone Armor provides additional power, enhancing the wearer's strength (Constitution +2.0).

Faced with the choice before him, Chu Xiu took a deep breath, conflicted.

All three enhancements are very useful!

Compared to the first layer of restrictions, the second layer of restrictions provides an even more astonishing boost!

The first effect, counter-damage, with a power of 2.0, is already extremely useful. The second effect further boosts Chu Xiu's already strong defense. The last effect can promptly make up for his lack of basic attribute points and enhance hunting efficiency.

Chu Xiu looked conflicted.

I want them all!

This is undoubtedly a huge test for candidates who have difficulty making choices.

After thinking for a while, Chu Xiu finally chose [Reload].

This is mainly due to practical needs.

[Spikes] is the first to be ruled out. It doesn't lack attack methods, and its 2.0 power is only good for clearing small monsters, with limited effect on elite monsters.

While the remaining power is excellent, his current battles with the ghouls are, in a sense, more of a positional warfare scenario. Improving his defenses would provide more room for error, while his offensive capabilities could be compensated for by using the Shadow Ghosts.

For example, if I had a +7 Energy Absorption Heavy Armor, I probably could have withstood the elite ghoul I encountered that night without taking any damage!

As Chu Xiu made up his mind, the excess corpse materials on the ground began to fuse and assemble. About three minutes later, his bone armor underwent a dramatic transformation!
Compared to before, the armor plates are thicker, overlapping each other like an impregnable mobile fortress! The spikes on the outer armor are also thicker and longer, radiating a terrifying cold light.

After Chu Xiu put on the bone armor, his height appeared to increase by more than ten centimeters, making him look like a skeletal war god who was over 1.9 meters tall!
Chu Xiu tapped the thick armor plates on his chest. He felt that the most heavily armored area was probably impenetrable even by a single shot from an assault rifle.

Unfortunately, no matter how well the structure of armor is optimized, there are limits; every gain comes with a loss.

After significantly increasing the number and thickness of the nail plates, the range of motion at the joints became noticeably reduced.

And
"This thing is damn heavy," Chu Xiu couldn't help but complain.

After being reinforced, the total weight of the bone armor is close to fifty kilograms!

In ancient times, let alone 50 kilograms of heavy armor, even 30 kilograms was rare. It required riding on horseback to fight for a long time. If an infantryman wore this kind of armor, he would probably collapse from exhaustion before he could even cut down his opponent!
Even with his current physical condition, he felt pressure from this weight!

However, compared to the sense of security brought by being protected by thick armor plates, this weight is negligible.

"Alright, it's time to start collecting the other loot."

Chu Xiu's eyes sparkled.

Killing this elite zombie dog directly yielded 47 Karma Points! It also dropped a [Fine] quality item, [Type 002 Zombie Emergency Hormone Concentrate].

This stuff can heal wounds quickly, but it's somewhat toxic, and ordinary people might get diarrhea from using it.

Chu Xiu recalled that when he fought the elite corpse hound earlier, the hound had used this skill to heal its wounds after being hit by a Yin Wind Blade.

"Good stuff!"

As expected of an elite monster.

The drop rate is really high!

Moreover, it was a rare prop that he could actually use.

"With these three tubes of... well, the therapeutic hormones, my margin for error can be further improved."

Chu Xiu happily placed it into his storage space.

Of course, his gains didn't stop there. The remaining ordinary ghouls also yielded some rewards, dropping a total of 29 karma points and two pieces of [common] quality equipment.

"Unfortunately, neither piece of equipment, one weapon and one leather armor, is of much use to me."

"I can only make up for my losses with your corpses." Chu Xiu pointed his finger, and the blood essence of the elite corpse hounds was absorbed into his body. Just as he expected, the elite monsters contained extremely strong life force, which directly increased his cultivation progress of the [Bloodthirsty Heart Refining Technique] by 14 points.

Then he raised the white bone banner in his hand, and all the living souls of the corpse demons were collected, quickly filling the space of the white bone banner.

Chu Xiu did not hesitate. He pointed at the corpse of the elite corpse dog, and began to refine it, replenishing it into the White Bone Banner.

Instantly, the high-quality corpses of elite monsters caused the White Bone Banner's enhancement progress to skyrocket, leveling up two levels in a row!
Moreover, the soul of this elite corpse dog was exceptionally ferocious, occupying 23 points of space in its living soul state alone. As soon as it entered the White Bone Banner, it began to tear apart other living souls.

This made Chu Xiu even happier.

"The quality of a Yin Ghost largely depends on the strength of its 'main soul'."

"The first Yin Ghost I crafted had a main soul that was just an ordinary black-haired corpse ghost. Although it was considered strong among black-haired corpse ghosts, the final product was only at the mortal level 7."

"I wonder what the final product of this elite soul will be!"

At this moment, the more than thirty corpse ghosts on the ground had already met the conditions for the birth of the second Yin Ghost. Chu Xiu did not hesitate, waved the Soul Banner and swept it to collect all the living souls, and then made a refining spell.

Instantly, the elite ghoul's soul became even more ferocious, and it began to devour other souls.

Chu Xiu waved his hand, put away the White Bone Banner, and led the wild boar away from the battle area.

Although most of the corpses were refined, they would still retain a considerable amount of odor, which might attract other monsters.

Having found a safe area in a residential building, Chu Xiu began to concentrate on refining the Yin Soul.

Not long after, a frenzied roar came from within the white bone banner, and Chu Xiu's eyes lit up with surprise.

The second Yin Ghost is complete!

Chu Xiu couldn't wait to check the attributes.

[Shadow Ghost]

[Rank] Mortal Rank 8

[Attributes] Constitution 0, Spirit 11.2, Energy Level 12.4
[Skills] Yin Wind Blade (Minor Mastery), Life Drain (Beginner)

【Trait】Soul Body (Greatly reduces physical damage; attributes decrease under intense sunlight.)
[Talent] Manifestation (Transforms into physical form, loses the trait [Soul Body], gains the trait [Claws], loses the skill [Life Drain], gains the skill [Powerful Claw Strike], Constitution +14.9)

"Level 8 of the Mortal Rank!"

"I was right after all. Using a stronger main soul can indeed create a stronger Yin Ghost!"

Chu Xiu exclaimed in delight.

But then he shook his head with some regret.

"However, the strength of a Yin Ghost is ultimately limited."

"Even if I use the strongest living soul, I can only refine a level 9 mortal corpse at most. It is impossible to break through this limit and reach the warrior level."

"There will be improvements, but there won't be any earth-shattering changes."

"To create a stronger Yin Ghost, you need to continue leveling up and unlocking higher-level inheritances."

Chu Xiu sighed silently.

If others heard his heartfelt words, they would probably be so angry they'd vomit blood.

Brother, you're only a level 5 mortal awakener, yet you already have a level 7 mortal and a level 8 mortal henchman. Aren't you satisfied with that?
But Chu Xiu was not satisfied.

After resting for a while, eating several large pieces of wild boar meat, and carefully cutting up and storing the remaining valuable parts in his storage space, he immediately set off with his two ghosts to explore the neighborhood.

"It's time for things to settle down further."

"Liver, liver it to death!"

(End of this chapter)