Chapter 173: Demon Energy Red Cedar Forest

That material among them is Heavenly Craft Stone, which also counts as an unexpected gain.

The purple one is a necklace, its shape somewhat similar to the Wolf Fang Pendant, also a tooth-shaped object.

Sharp Fang Pendant (purple)

Magic Defense: 150

Additional: Bloodsuck

Additional: Defense +40

Additional: HP +400

Level: 35

Description: A pendant made from the canine tooth of a Gnoll chieftain.

(Bloodsuck: Attack adds 2% lifesteal.)

It seems to be the same kind of thing as the Wolf Fang Pendant Su Sheng currently wears, except one is a wolf fang and the other a dog fang.

Of course, in a sense wolves and dogs are the same creature, dogs just being wolves that have been domesticated.

The lifesteal is lower by one percent compared to the Wolf Fang Pendant Su Sheng currently wears, but it's only one percent, no big deal, and besides, the other additional attributes give greater benefits.

The Wolf Fang Pendant's additional attribute is only 5 points of strength, while the Sharp Fang Pendant adds defense and HP, exactly the stats Su Sheng needs right now.

However, it requires level 35; although I just happened to pick up a Heavenly Craft Stone, I'll still keep it for now.

Anyway, I'm only one level away.

Coincidentally, the Demon Soldier Helmet that dropped earlier also requires level 35; since I'm only one level short, Su Sheng also took out the Demon Soldier Helmet, which is in his backpack.

Although the Wild Bear Helmet just performed great earlier, it's ultimately just a level 30 green item; even after I level up once I'll have to replace it, but the Demon Soldier Helmet's stats are too tempting.

Once I reach level 35 this time, I can replace both the helmet and the necklace.

It's a bit of a pity that I only picked up one purple item; I don't know what the other purple drop is, but judging by the Sharp Fang Pendant's stats, the other purple equipment is probably not bad either.

After checking the loot, Su Sheng didn't linger.

Taking advantage of the current Hunting Stance's speed, he headed straight for his planned location.

Around there are still some scattered monsters above level 35, and from time to time he can run into parties of Solo Players.

It's obvious these Solo Players' parties are like those in Paulownia Town—unable to secure a Training Spot, they can only go to a lower-tier training spot or team up to fight these scattered monsters.

Su Sheng made no stop, just went straight through.

"Did you see someone rush past?"

"I saw him, he was so fast, whoosh and he was gone."

"Who is it, how can the speed be so fast?"

When the 5-minute Hunting Stance just ended, Su Sheng roughly saw his destination.

A vast red-black forest.

Hongshan Town, Hongshan Town....

As the name suggests, there should be red cedar here, but Su Sheng hasn't seen any along the way.

What the hell, it's on hold.

Su Sheng looked up; ahead was a large expanse of reddish-barked cedar, which should be the Red Cedar Forest, but black Demon Energy was rising from this cedar woodland.

The monsters patrolling the outskirts are ones Su Sheng is relatively familiar with.

Low-level Demon Soldiers!

Level 40 Low-level Demon Soldiers!

However, Su Sheng has a headache; these Low-level Demon Soldiers come in squads.

Some are in groups of three, some in groups of five.

If pulling monsters, you can only pull one group at a time.

Su Sheng roughly estimated his current stats; he should be able to handle the Low-level Demon Soldiers.

To be safe, Su Sheng cautiously tried pulling a three-man squad of Low-level Demon Soldiers.

"Intruder!"

"Exterminate!"

"..."

Pff~

-234

-301

-277

He first tested the damage; Su Sheng grinned, really a monster—his defense is over a thousand, yet these demon soldiers can still pierce it.

Even some bosses can't compare to these low-level demon soldiers.

Actually, it's not surprising; during the siege earlier, Su Sheng had witnessed the terror of these low-level demon soldiers.

But it's not a big problem; there are only three of them.

Su Sheng immediately stepped with the Z-step, beginning to avoid damage while dealing output.

-871

-891

Hehe, Su Sheng smirked—this is just a normal attack, and his output is still pretty strong.

A three-man squad is just right.

Su Sheng stepped with the Z-step, using one of the Low-level Demon Soldiers as a 'pillar', employing the Qin King Circling the Pillar tactic to fight monsters, always keeping the attack trajectories of the other two Low-level Demon Soldiers blocked by this 'pillar'.

Who told this to be a virtual-real game, yet collision volume exists.

That way, it can be counted as a one‑on‑one duel with a low‑level demon soldier.

Of course, Su Sheng can't be perfect; occasionally he still gets hit by another low‑level demon soldier.

Even so, it's not a big problem; Su Sheng can always timely Shield Raise and Block, and besides the damage reduction from Block, he can occasionally evade one or two attacks.

At the same time, Su Sheng's damage output is still very strong.

He uses skill bursts whenever possible, first taking down a low‑level demon soldier; the Wolf Fang Pendant's 3% lifesteal reliably guarantees Su Sheng's margin of error.

After killing one, it becomes a one‑versus‑two; at that point, Su Sheng is much more at ease, Qin King Pillar Spin, relying on agility, is essentially equivalent to a one‑on‑one.

Once another one is dealt with, it becomes a true one‑on‑one.

A squad of three demon soldiers can…

It's a bit taxing; it requires utmost caution.

The margin of error is relatively low.

The attacks of these low‑level demon soldiers are just too extreme; they seem similar to the zombies at the previous Chaotic Burial Hill, with attacks that carry a certain armor‑piercing effect.

Otherwise, Su Sheng's defense of over a thousand…

Looking at the experience gains, they are quite substantial.

Along the way, Su Sheng has also noticed some patterns.

It seems that monsters infused with Demon Energy are considerably stronger than ordinary monsters.

At the same time, experience points and loot drops become richer.

Just now, Su Sheng just finished off the third low‑level demon soldier, forming a full squad.

It dropped a piece of equipment.

A level‑40 Leather Armor, green, decent enough.

Continue spawning monsters.

Today's playtime is close to ten more hours.

Su Sheng estimated his efficiency and feels he can reach level 35 before logging off today.

After all, when he killed that Yin Yang Taoist Boss before, Su Sheng leveled up.

Later, after clearing the Mysterious Tomb, it granted a huge experience reward; although it didn't level him up directly, it pushed Su Sheng's experience forward by a large margin.

Also, just now when he snatched the Peak Guild's boss, as the final‑blow finisher, Su Sheng earned another share of experience.

While grinding monsters, Su Sheng also asked Huan Jie whether the seal mission for the Yin Yang Robe with his dad was going smoothly.

"It's going quite smoothly, except…"

"How so? Wait, I'll send you a screenshot."

Lin Huan gave a somewhat odd reply.

He also attached a screenshot.

Su Sheng opened the screenshot and was completely stunned.

At this moment, the Huacui Squad should be fighting a boss—likely a quest boss—and dad Su Wenhao had put on the black‑and‑white Yin Yang Robe, dealing damage on the side.

But what surprised Su Sheng was… his dad's side…