Chapter 54: Malformed Infant

【Malformed Infant】

【Attributes】

【HP: 100%】

【MP: 50】

【Strength: 7】

【Agility: 7】

【Constitution: 7】

【Spirit: 5】

【Perception: 5】

【Talent】

【Ghost Umbilicus】

【Skills】

【Hate of the Corpse-Born (Passive) LV.MAX】

The data quickly revealed the stats of those ghostly entities.

With high attributes, along with talents and skills, they were far beyond creatures like changgui.

“Brother Chu, why are you back up?” Guo Ming asked, puzzled why he had descended only to climb back up so soon.

"Night is falling. Without the suppression of the Tuanzhi Tiger, the entities below will break free," Chu Danqing explained. "That group of ghosts are called Malformed Infants—they're no ordinary spirits."

“They could truly overwhelm Da Bao to death.”

He had glanced briefly earlier and counted at least thirty of them.

If they surged out en masse, it wouldn’t be a question of whether Da Bao could hold them off—it would be whether both of them could survive.

So they had no choice but a strategic retreat.

“Malformed Infants?!!” Guo Ming clearly knew their origin—his face paled even more than Chu Danqing’s. “Bad. Run now.”

“Where there are Malformed Infants, there must be a Malformed Mother.”

As he spoke, darkness fell. A dark-skinned hand gripped the edge of the well.

The next moment, one Malformed Infant crawled out, its umbilical cord dangling down to the well’s bottom.

Da Bao moved fastest, his claws sweeping out to tear the infant apart.

He swiftly retreated, and instantly, a dozen Malformed Infants poured from the well’s mouth, frenziedly lunging at Da Bao.

Though Da Bao’s overall strength surpassed theirs, their numbers were overwhelming—he was soon outnumbered.

Not all the Malformed Infants targeted Da Bao; two had noticed Chu Danqing and Guo Ming.

They crawled toward the two, dragging their long umbilical cords, moving on all fours.

Seeing this, Chu Danqing immediately unleashed an energy link to summon Crossbowmen.

The Malformed Infant didn’t dodge—it opened its mouth, wide across half its face, and bit down, shattering the energy chain on the spot.

But the act caused it to pause, shaking its head uncontrollably.

Chu Danqing didn’t hesitate—he unleashed another energy link. This time, the two Malformed Infants didn’t open their mouths to bite; instead, they dodged with their slender bodies, charging forward with undiminished force.

Not only were their stats higher than his, they possessed talents and skills—his minor tricks instantly failed.

He immediately spent his own energy to summon the Crossbowmen, then swiftly drew the Cold Spring Shadow sniper rifle and fired without aiming.

【You dealt 7 physical damage + 4 ice attribute damage, and inflicted 3-second slow】

The shot struck one Malformed Infant in the chest, causing damage and slight knockback; frost formed, drastically reducing its forward speed.

The moment the Crossbowmen were summoned, they didn’t raise their crossbow—they charged forward without hesitation and punched.

They knocked down the Malformed Infant about to pounce on Chu Danqing, shielding him from attack.

Then they drew their standard-issue short sword and slashed again, further pushing back the infant.

“Brother Chu, forty-eight Malformed Infants,” Guo Ming immediately counted them. “Their mother isn’t complete yet—so all forty-eight umbilical cords remain uncut.”

“Cut the umbilical cords, and they’ll vanish on their own.”

Chu Danqing had already considered this, but hadn’t yet had time to confirm with Da Bao—Guo Ming had spoken first.

“Da Bao, tear the cords,” Chu Danqing translated Guo Ming’s words into a command Da Bao could understand.

Da Bao had no idea what an umbilical cord was.

On the other side, the Crossbowmen moved in, swinging their short swords toward the nearest Malformed Infant.

The blade sank into the umbilical cord—but didn’t sever it; instead, it got stuck.

The umbilical cord’s core wasn’t the Malformed Infant itself.

But Da Bao’s claws—already formidable—were further enhanced by his Tear Claw skill.

So, moving in tandem, they severed the umbilical cords of two Malformed Infants.

With their cords cut, the two infants wailed and turned to ash.

Chu Danqing made no further move—he turned and dragged Guo Ming away.

The Crossbowmen were a ranged summon, yes—but that didn’t mean they couldn’t fight close-range.

If he stayed, he’d be a liability.

“Da Bao, find a chance to run,” Chu Danqing called out one last time.

As for the Crossbowmen—he didn’t care much; they could be summoned again if they died.

Da Bao heard—but chose not to flee. Ignoring the overwhelming numbers, he grew fiercer with every strike.

Severing the umbilical cord was an instant kill—perfect for Da Bao.

But as the battle dragged on, Da Bao’s HP dropped below 50%, triggering Fearless State.

Soon after, it fell below 30%, adding Rage State.

He became a battle machine—but due to his beast instincts and combat intuition, he still targeted the weak point: the umbilical cord.

That was terrible—it meant he couldn’t trigger Blood Drain.

“You go first. Take this for protection,” Chu Danqing shoved the Cold Spring Shadow into Guo Ming’s hands, then turned back.

Da Bao’s HP was nearly gone—if he didn’t heal now, he’d die.

“Da Bao, drink the potion!” Chu Danqing threw two Weak Healing Potions toward Da Bao.

In his Rage State, Da Bao instinctively obeyed Chu Danqing’s command, snatching the potions and drinking them by instinct.

His HP surged back, slowly easing out of Rage State.

But Chu Danqing’s action drew the attention of a Malformed Infant—it lunged straight at him.

Chu Danqing turned and ran—but his speed couldn’t match the infant’s.

He looked back—the infant leapt, aiming straight for his face.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out—a Cold Shadow Bullet struck the infant’s umbilical cord with perfect accuracy, severing it instantly.

The infant’s momentum carried it forward—it landed on Chu Danqing’s face, leaving only a pile of ash.

Then eight more shots rang out, exhausting all Cold Shadow Bullets in the Cold Spring Shadow.

Each bullet struck a Malformed Infant’s umbilical cord precisely—freeing the Crossbowmen and relieving Da Bao’s pressure.

A look of “What the hell?” appeared on Chu Danqing’s face—Guo Ming’s marksmanship was absurdly precise.

“Brother Chu, this thing’s way better than a bow,” Guo Ming stepped forward, holding the Cold Spring Shadow, his face flushed with exhilaration.

(End of Chapter)