This assassin is upright

Chapter 355 The Perilous Third Level
After a dizzying moment, Yu Zhun regained his footing on solid ground.

He gripped the dagger tightly in his hand, and only after confirming that he hadn't fallen into any particularly dangerous place did he begin to observe his surroundings.

Compared to the second level of the Netherworld, the third level of the Netherworld seemed to be darker. Yu Zhun could clearly sense that the demonic energy around him was much denser, and there seemed to be great danger lurking in the deep darkness.

But these are not the most important issues at the moment.

After Yu Zhun finished observing the surrounding environment, he still hadn't seen any other teammates who had also been teleported to the third level of the Netherworld.

Upon realizing this, Yu Zhun's heart sank.

After discovering that each blood offering in the second level of the Netherworld could only allow one person to enter the next level, he had a bad feeling.

And now, that premonition seems to have become a reality.

The teleportation to the third level is random.

He and the other four were separated.

Yu Zhun was unsure whether this was some kind of mechanism that Youming had temporarily changed after seeing their performance in the first two levels, or if it was the original mechanism.

But without a doubt, this will create even greater obstacles for their already difficult dungeon攻略 (strategy/strategy).

“It’s almost impossible to encounter the other four.” Yu Zhun muttered in a low voice, his expression solemn. “Although I don’t know exactly how big the third level of the Netherworld is, I do know about the second level.”

The second level of the Netherworld is almost the size of a complete blue planet, or even larger.

Furthermore, it is significantly larger than the first layer.

Following this pattern, the third layer will be larger than the second layer.

Reuniting with four other people in this kind of place, who have been teleported to random locations, is practically hellish.

Yu Zhun took out the dormant communication device, sighed, and then put it back. In the [Netherworld] instance, items under the [Divine Revelation World] system were also unusable.

So at this moment, he couldn't even contact his teammates.

"It seems we can only rely on ourselves."

Just as he was pondering, a strange sound suddenly came from the darkness not far away, causing Yu Zhun's pupils to shrink sharply.

He tensed up like a cheetah, gripping the dagger tightly with both hands, staring intently in the direction the sound came from.

"The rustling—"

"The rustling—"

The strange sound grew closer and closer, but he remained completely unaware of its approach. This subtle, unknown feeling made Yu Zhun's expression grow increasingly serious, and he began to mentally rehearse various possible scenarios and countermeasures.

This is an ability he gradually developed after encountering various third-tier demons with inexplicable powers in the second level of the Netherworld.

After the third job advancement, there are so many strange and wonderful abilities that if you don't practice them beforehand, you'll easily suffer in battle.

The rustling sound grew closer and closer, so close that Yu Zhun had the illusion that the other person was already standing in front of him, before it abruptly stopped.

The surroundings fell silent again, but this silence was like the calm before a flash flood, making Yu Zhun's heart even more tense.

"hiss--"

A sharp screech suddenly rang out, followed by a huge mouth full of black, sharp teeth emerging from the darkness and heading towards Yu Zhun.

coming!

Yu Zhun's heart tightened, and he easily dodged the opponent's attack with a flash of movement, then plunged his dagger deep into the opponent's flesh.

"Pfft-"

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh, mixed with the opponent's painful screams, caused Yu Zhun to suddenly take several steps back.

The fatal blow brought the opponent to their death. After a few violent twitches, the terrifying creature was completely still.

Only now did Yu Zhun get a clear look at the other person's appearance.

It was a ferocious monster nearly a kilometer long, its body covered with purplish-black demonic patterns, resembling an earthworm.

Initially, Yu Zhun thought this was an ability possessed by a third-level demon on the third level, since he had encountered a third-level demon with similar abilities on the second level. But soon, he realized something was wrong.

“This guy is a complete individual.” Yu Zhun stroked the other’s enormous body, a look of bewilderment on his face.

If it were a demon, it should have turned to ashes after being killed, leaving only a round, bead-shaped power core. But this big guy left behind a corpse.

Besides, the opponent's strength was not as great as Yu Zhun had imagined; at most, he could only be considered to have the strength of someone who had just entered the third stage, which did not meet the strength that a demon of this level should have.

With that, Yu Zhun quickly found the answer in his mind.

This is something new in the third layer of the Netherworld.

The other party is not a demon, but a completely new species.

"Another new development..." Yu Zhun's eyes gleamed with a glint of light. "Interesting."

The different levels of the Netherworld seem to be different from one another.

These different designs will give rise to different rules.

To figure out the situation on the third floor, this enormous creature is likely to be the most important thing right now.

Just as Yu Zhun had this thought, a powerful aura suddenly appeared in his senses.

The opponent rushed towards Yu Zhun at an extremely fast speed, without concealing their aura at all, as if it were intentional.

And the other party's aura...

Very strong!

Yu Zhun felt a slight chill run down his spine.

The opponent's strength seems to be much greater than his current strength.

Clearly, this is the strength a third-stage demon should possess in this area.

Having experienced the second level of the Netherworld, Yu Zhun almost instinctively believed that the other party was after him.

But when he got into a fighting stance, he was surprised to find that the demon who had appeared didn't seem to be looking at him. Instead, he was looking at the huge, earthworm-like corpse on the ground with a strange gaze.

Then, he uttered an ancient word in a low voice.

The translation potion that Yu Zhu made with the flesh and blood of a demon was still effective, and Yu Zhun easily understood the meaning of the other party's words.

【Demon Insect】

Are you talking about this kind of giant insect?

That's quite fitting.

However, seeing that the other party didn't care about him at all, Yu Zhun couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.

Based on their previous speculations and the results obtained after interrogating the demon, they should carry a certain divine blood essence aura.

This aura is very attractive to demons when the divine blood offerings are not being distributed, but the demons don't care about them.

Is it that the demons on the third level don't care about divine blood?
Or is it that... the corpse of this demonic insect is far more important than divine blood food?
The first scenario is clearly unreasonable.

Then it can only be the second scenario.

Yu Zhun's eyes flashed, and just as the other party was about to get any closer, he flashed forward and blocked their path.

The demon's expression darkened, and his gaze toward Yu Zhun carried a hint of coldness. He did not make a move immediately, but instead uttered a series of syllables in a deep voice.

Give me the insect corpse, and I'll let you go.

"Heh~" Yu Zhun was amused by the other party. "Do I need you to let me off the hook?"

The demon was silent for a moment, then a chilling light suddenly flashed in his eyes, "Leave or die!"

"Om-"

A black demonic aura shot into the sky, almost grazing Yu Zhun's face, followed by more and more demonic aura rapidly intertwining in mid-air.

These demonic energies gradually formed a large net, and Yu Zhun was the target that the net wanted to capture.

A flicker of surprise crossed Yu Zhun's eyes upon seeing this, but quickly the dagger in his hand swelled in response, "Slash!" "Whoosh—"

With a sharp whooshing sound, the incredibly strong net of demonic energy was instantly severed. Before it could close again, Yu Zhun's figure had already pounced out of the hole like a ghost.

"Humph!"

The demon snorted and stretched out a hand, clenching it tightly. The net of demonic energy instantly shattered and then coalesced into a giant demonic claw that lunged at him.

As Yu Zhun continued to dodge and defend, the demonic energy rapidly transformed into different shapes, sealing off Yu Zhun's escape route.

For a time, Yu Zhun found himself constantly at a disadvantage.

This guy's abilities...

A serious look flashed in Yu Zhun's eyes.

He could clearly sense that the demonic energy emanating from the other party was not simple demonic energy; it contained a deadly poison that he was extremely wary of.

If he dares to touch that kind of third-level poison, he will instantly lose half his life and may also suffer from negative effects that cannot be dispelled.

This ability to control highly toxic demonic energy and transform it into various forms to attack opponents is simple, direct, yet terrifying enough.

"Give it to me, cut it off!"

With a soft shout from Yu Zhun, a wall of killing intent rose from the ground, instantly blocking the incoming poisonous demonic energy behind it.

Taking advantage of the brief respite brought by [Broken Void], Yu Zhun stomped his foot and fiercely attacked the true form of the third-stage demon.

The dagger in his hand flashed with a faint light, its blade rapidly extending infinitely towards the third-stage demon. "Die!"

"A mere trick." The third-level demon looked at him with disdain and casually waved his hand, sending out a second wave of demonic energy that rushed towards the blade.

"Ping—"

The intangible demonic energy instantly transformed into a sturdy shield strong enough to withstand weapons, blocking the tip of the dagger and preventing it from advancing an inch.

At the same time, the third-stage demon casually made a move, and the demonic energy that had been blocked by [Severing the Void] quickly bypassed the wall of killing intent and attacked Yu Zhun from behind.

"You will be reduced to nothing but dust by my demonic poison!"

"Is that so?" Yu Zhun said quietly. "Not necessarily."

The moment he finished speaking, the gray clouds enveloped him and the third-stage demon.

The third-stage demon's pupils suddenly contracted, and his body stiffened uncontrollably for a moment. At the same time, his demonic energy collapsed instantly in silence, unable to withstand Yu Zhun's blade.

"Pfft-"

Yu Zhun swiftly and decisively stabbed the third-stage demon into its body.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Yu Zhun watched as the third-stage demon, whose life was nearing its end, turned to ashes, and a trace of regret appeared in his eyes.

"I'd like to find out more about this guy."

The opponent was quite strong, and Yu Zhun dared not give him any chance to retaliate, so he could only end the opponent's life directly.

but…

Yu Zhun quickly walked to the purple bead dropped by the third-level demon and picked it up. Then his gaze fell on another object next to the bead.

It was the corpse of a demonic worm, but unlike the giant demonic worm that was a thousand meters long beside him, this demonic worm's corpse was only the length of a finger. The size difference between the two was so great that they were practically not even the same species.

This is the first time that something other than the orb has dropped after killing a demon.

"So, what exactly is this demonic insect for?"

Yu Zhun walked back to the giant corpse of the demonic insect and tried to put it back into his backpack, but he failed.

Clearly, this huge creature cannot be put into a backpack.

Almost as he was trying to put the demonic insect into his backpack, another powerful aura appeared in his senses.

That was a guy whose strength was similar to the third-level demon from before.

Come again?

Yu Zhun's lips twitched slightly, and he stood quietly in place waiting.

Soon, the other party arrived near Yu Zhun. He did not look at Yu Zhun, but was also attracted by the corpse of the giant demonic insect, and a greedy look appeared in his eyes.

"Hey, wait a minute."

Yu Zhun called out to the other person who was eagerly about to step forward, "How about we make a deal?"

"A trade..." The third-stage demon glanced at Yu Zhun, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes, "From the second floor?"

"Want to know the purpose of the demonic insects?"

This guy's pretty shrewd...

Yu Zhun's lips twitched. "Tell me the function of the demonic worm, and I might as well give you this demonic worm."

"But if you're planning to forcibly take it..."

Yu Zhun took out the deep purple bead he had just obtained, "I just killed one like you."

The third-stage demon glanced at the bead in Yu Zhun's hand, roughly judging the other party's strength in life by the energy of the bead, and after a moment of contemplation, slowly said, "Okay, I'll tell you."

"The demonic insects are unique creatures on the third level. They have extremely special abilities and can completely merge with the darkness. Unless they actively reveal themselves, they cannot be attacked or seen."

Reflecting on his past experiences, Yu Zhun nodded slightly.

"The demonic insects are extremely difficult to kill. Once they are near death, they will break down into multiple smaller individuals and quickly hide again."

"Therefore, the larger the demonic insect, the rarer and more unusual it is." As he spoke, the third-level demon looked at the huge demonic insect beside him in surprise. "This is the first time I've ever seen such a large demonic insect."

"You've got incredibly lucky. You stumbled upon a corpse like this the moment you got to the third floor."

Yu Zhun's lips twitched slightly.

So, the other party doesn't think he killed him at all?
Indeed, according to the other party, this demonic insect clearly has a special mechanism similar to resurrection, and ordinary demons cannot completely kill it even if they use all their strength.

Only a monster like Yu Zhun could do that.

Oh well, let them think what they want.

"After all this talk, you still haven't told me the purpose of the demonic insects."

“Absorb.” The third-stage demon slowly spoke, “The demonic insects merge with the darkness, constantly absorbing demonic energy to grow. Absorbing the corpses of the demonic insects can purify one’s own demonic energy, eventually reaching a new level.”

"With the aid of divine blood offerings, one can advance to the next level."

"I see." Yu Zhun looked enlightened.

Although he only encountered two third-level demons, he had already clearly discovered the difference between the third-level and second-level demons.

The demons on the second level will indiscriminately kill and devour any demon they encounter, but this is not the case on the third level.

The previous demon had told him to leave, but this new demon could even communicate with him normally.

The reason for all of this is quite simple.

The only way for a second-level demon to increase its power is to devour other demons, but in the third level, the way to increase power changes again.

Absorbing the corpses of demonic insects is the key to improvement.

As for the power of other demons, it is not so important.

"The demonic insect is yours." Yu Zhun paused in his speech.

"It needs to be absorbed here."

The third-stage demon nodded, completely disregarding Yu Zhun's presence, and rushed forward to bite the demon worm's body. The demon worm's body shrank at a visible speed until it was only the length of a finger.

It was exactly the same as the other demonic insect corpse in Yu Zhun's hand.

(End of this chapter)