Chapter 11 Skill: Scout Eagle

"The Abyss World is far more terrifying than I imagined," Su Muyu exclaimed with a sigh.

"Do you regret it?" Lu Heng looked into her eyes, trying to see if there was any sign of retreat in them, but he was also worried that she might indeed regret it.

Su Muyu shook her head with a firm tone, "I had seriously considered it before I decided to follow you in here. Now that I've made my decision, I won't regret it."

While they were speaking, Lu Heng heard a "crack" sound of bone being snapped.

Hush!

Lu Heng made a silencing gesture and then began to tread lightly toward the direction of the sound.

Turning the corner of the street, they saw a gray-black creature under the corner of a roof eave, gnawing on the bones of some unknown creature.

Upon closer inspection, it was a stone gargoyle.

Judging by its size, it appeared to be a Level 4 Stone Gargoyle.

Lu Heng signaled for Su Muyu to hide, then circled around to make sure there were no other Abyss Demons nearby before he slowly drew his iron sword and approached.

The stone gargoyle suddenly turned its head, noticed someone approaching, and immediately spread its wings, diving toward them.

Lu Heng did not dodge or evade, charging directly at the stone gargoyle like an arrow released from its bow.

With his "Agile as a Dragon" Trait, he pushed his agility to the extreme, leaping high into the air and concentrating the Power of thunder and lightning on his blade, chopping down with both hands firmly gripping his sword.

The stone gargoyle turned back with a shrill screech, instantly hardening its skin to stone, and folding its wings together to block the sword's light.

Bang!

The sword struck the stone gargoyle's rocky skin, making a "bang" sound like that of striking granite.

The stone gargoyle fell from the mid-air to the ground, rolling a few times, then quickly got up without having received any serious damage.

Just as Lu Heng had predicted, this stone gargoyle's defensive ability, among low-rank demons, was one of the highest, and its skin could turn to stone, making it highly resistant to elements such as fire, thunder, and frost.

This meant that the "Thunder Weapon" posed very little threat to it, unable to inflict substantial damage.

However, the stone gargoyle had a fatal weakness: once it petrified its skin, it would lose its ability to fly.

So, it could be slowly whittled down to defeat.

Lu Heng treated it as a practice session for the "Step Sword Seven Styles," chasing after the gargoyle, slashing more fiercely with each blow.

The edge of the sword clashed against the petrified skin, sending sparks flying.

Angered, the stone gargoyle let out a furious screech and swung its claws in retaliation.

A Level 4 Stone Gargoyle had formidable combat power, with an average Attribute score reaching 13 points.

Apart from agility, Lu Heng's other Attributes were not as high as the gargoyle's.

However, this stone gargoyle lacked Spiritual system skills, meaning that mental and Perception Attributes had no impact on the battle.

Only in Strength was there a slight gap.

Armed with abundant combat experience and the Step Sword Seven Styles at the second-tier Sword Skill Realm, Lu Heng compensated for the lack of Strength.

As he clashed in hard strikes, his Sword Technique Proficiency began to increase.

"Engaged in sword technique combat, Sword Technique Proficiency +1."

"Engaged in sword technique combat, Sword Technique Proficiency +1."

Finally, after another slice, his Master Level Sword Technique Proficiency maxed out (2000/2000).

"Master Level Sword Technique Training Perfect, stepping into the third Sword Skill Realm—in-depth level."

As the Sword Skill Realm improved, Lu Heng's sword swung with a delicacy that showcased the subtle differences of his improved skill level.

When he thrust the sword, it possessed the ferocity of a tiger leaping off a mountain.

When he retracted the sword, the sword light flickered like thunder retreating.

Lu Heng's attacks grew increasingly swift, employing the most minute variations in force to deliver the most fearsome strikes.

Pressured by the relentless attack, the stone gargoyle screeched in anger, trying to claw back amidst abandoning defensive maneuvers.

Lu Heng seized the opportunity and swung his sword in a vertical chop.

The sword's blade shone with a crescent moon-like glow, striking the gargoyle's shoulder and chipping away a piece of its rocky exterior.

With a glitter in his eye, Lu Heng targeted the breach and thrust forward with the "Cloud Piercing Style," aiming for the gap.

Sensing the impending danger, the agile gargoyle dodged to avoid the descending sword light.

At an In-depth Level of swordsmanship, even as the sword tip reached the end of its thrust, it still had the capability to finely adjust the landing point of the blade's light.

Even though the gargoyle executed an evasive maneuver, Lu Heng still precisely stabbed into the gap of its rock skin.

Pff!

Ahh!

A single thrust penetrated the gargoyle's body, with the sword tip piercing out from its back.

As he stabbed through the gargoyle's body, Lu Heng activated his Thunder Weapon, and a wild torrent of thunder burst forth from within the gargoyle.

The gargoyle emitted a series of piercing screams, desperately struggling and writhing until it turned to ash within the thunderous outburst.

Lu Heng smoothly sheathed his sword with a clean and deft motion.

The residual demon energy from the gargoyle condensed into a Demon Crystal Core.

During Lu Heng's battle,

Su Muyu maintained her composure, knowing that she could not help against such a fearsome creature, and the right thing to do was to not become a burden.

Thus, she picked up an Anti-riot Shield to hold in front of her, stood against the wall, positioning herself where the battle would not reach.

Watching Lu Heng wield his sword in combat just before, her eyes gleamed with admiration, and she liked the feeling of standing behind him more and more.

At that moment, she resolved to be his strongest support, to aid him in carving a path to the heavens amidst the apocalypse.

After Lu Heng eliminated the gargoyle, he picked up the Demon Crystal Core from the ground and held it in his palm to check its attributes.

Seeing this skill, a smile emerged at the corners of Lu Heng's mouth.

This skill was extremely practical and perfectly suited for Perception System superpower users; it could perfectly synchronize with Su Muyu's Talent.

Lu Heng turned back and gestured towards her, "Don't just stand there dazed, come over and try to see if you can learn this skill."

Absorbing a Skill Crystal Core only gave a chance to learn the skill; it wasn't guaranteed.

"Oh."

Su Muyu replied obediently and hurried over in a few quick steps.

Lu Heng tossed the crystal core to her, instructing, "Just like before, crush it and absorb the energy inside."

This time, Su Muyu had experience, so she set down her shield, gripped the crystal core with both hands, and squeezed with all her might.

The Crystal Core transformed into a string of energy, flowing from her palms into her body.

"Try to control the energy, let it flow into your Skill Slot, and condense into an Energy Group," Lu Heng reminded her from the side.

Su Muyu nodded, and following his instructions, she allowed the stream of energy to enter the first Skill Slot, slowly gathering into an energy group the size of a walnut.

After the energy had gathered, she quickly checked her attribute panel and joyfully said, "I learned it; the skill is now on my panel."

"Try out the skill effect," Lu Heng suggested.

"Mhm."

Su Muyu nodded in agreement, then closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to use the skill.

A surge of energy burst from the Skill Slot, gathered along the blood vessels of her hands, and slowly coalesced into a 40-centimeter wingspan reconnaissance hawk.

The semi-transparent reconnaissance hawk flapped its wings and took flight, circling in the air.

Without needing Lu Heng to remind her, Su Muyu proactively closed her eyes and began trying her Initial Talent, the "Summoned Creature Vision."

The moment she closed her eyes, her field of view shifted as if her eyes were on the reconnaissance hawk, allowing her to survey the ground from the sky.

This feeling was so extraordinary, and she was completely immersed in this astonishing experience.

She controlled the reconnaissance hawk, circling around herself and Lu Heng, her heart filled with happiness and a slight thrill.

And at that moment,

In her sight, she suddenly spotted something semi-transparent moving along the wall, emerging from an alleyway and lunging towards Lu Heng's back.

As it drew closer, she could see it more clearly—this entity had sharp, ferocious claws and vicious horns.

Clearly, it was a demon.

Su Muyu hurriedly threw herself towards Lu Heng, "Be careful!"

The moment she embraced Lu Heng, her back was struck by a heavy blow, and she was sent flying away.