[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-monsters-are-coming":3,"chapter-the-monsters-are-coming-monsters-are-coming-chapter-17":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Monsters Are Coming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2249866,4069,"Chapter 17: Artifact Spirit Path","monsters-are-coming-chapter-17",17,"\u003Cp>For Li Tie, who was determined to defeat the Savage Axe, the members of the Fan Zui Gang still chose to continue spending money to support him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They purchased Sacrificial Power from brick-moving players like Li Zheng at a rate of 50:1, then used their Personal Guides to transfer the Sacrificial Power directly into Li Tie's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Li Zheng and the others extremely happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While mining, they discussed the matter again in their team chat channel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing Heart Moved: I just went to watch the combat livestream; thinking about Brother Li's explanation made me burst out laughing. Their situation can be completely understood as a group of juniors spending money to help an old grandpa play a soul-hunting game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Game Brick Mover: Stop laughing and hurry up to mine; every single ore can bring us several hundred in profits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leopard Head Zero Recharge: I've heard of this Fan Zui Gang in the game \"Conquest\" I played before; it's a very powerful game guild. It's said that the members are all second-generation rich kids; I hope we can maintain a long-term cooperation with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poor Enough to Eat Dirt: Mined another Energy Stone; adding a dish to tonight's meal, hahaha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Family Shared Godfather: Brothers, I suggest we save up to buy a good pickaxe before continuing to dig; don't sell Sacrificial Power as soon as we get it. Only by growing quickly can we earn more profits later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everyone in the team chat channel was delighted by the Fan Zui Gang's behavior, a notification suddenly popped up in the regional channel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Challenger Notification (Emperor Tomb Mountain Range Region): Player \"Iron Beating\" has successfully contained the Primordial Monster Savage, exclusively receiving a Sacrificial Power reward of 10,000 points and obtaining permission to freely unlock the second Star Vein socket.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Holy crap!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hard-grinding players who were still mining all exclaimed in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening the Star Vein function interface, they discovered that the number of containable monster soul spirits had increased by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul spirit was a battle axe, crimson from end to end, with crimson flowing light circulating on its surface; the axe blade flashed with cold light, the axe handle was carved with ghostly patterns and entangled with complex totems, its appearance extremely domineering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Savage (First Generation Primordial)]:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monster Trait: All physical attacks carry the \"Savage Strength\" effect, increasing damage by 50%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Purchase Cost: 1,000 Sacrificial Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the newly added soul spirit option, the hard-grinding players suddenly found they could no longer smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, cheers of jubilation came from nearby; obviously, the Fan Zui Gang members were celebrating Li Tie's success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hiss~ He actually won,\" Eat Dirt exclaimed in amazement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's normal; isn't this just the Blood-Grinding Tactics we proposed earlier? Let's continue mining and stop selling Sacrificial Power for now. Obviously, hunting monsters is the best way to produce Sacrificial Power; our strength still needs to be improved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tie's success stimulated the hard-grinding players, giving them the idea to stop selling Sacrificial Power and prioritize improving their own strength first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five hours later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another wave of Iron-Shell Insect swarms attacked; the hard-grinding players who were diligently mining decisively retreated together with the Fan Zui Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Insect swarms were events that frequently occurred within the Dim Caves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The constant striking of pickaxes against the rock walls would attract the Cave-Dweller Clan from the deep underground, bringing along large numbers of Iron-Shell Insects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With their current strength, they were insufficient to defeat the army of Iron-Shell Insects controlled by the Cave-Dweller Clan; wanting to avoid entering the one-hour resurrection cooldown, retreating was the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the Iron-Shell Insect swarm receded could they enter again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the cave, the world outside remained a gloomy dark red hue; there was no distinction between day and night here, only a strange, waning crescent moon hanging high in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the players prepared to head to the Blood-Colored Plain to hunt monsters and evil spirits, another regional notification popped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Challenger Notification (Emperor Tomb Mountain Range Region): Player \"Iron Beating\" has successfully contained the First Generation Primordial Shattered, exclusively receiving a 10,000 point Sacrificial Power reward and permission to freely unlock the third Star Vein socket.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suddenly appearing notification stunned all the players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few hours had passed, yet this player named \"Iron Beating\" had once again, relying solely on personal strength, contained a second Primordial Monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many players were stimulated and began searching for Primordial Monsters in the Blood-Colored Plain and Ancient Battlefield regions, hoping to obtain generous rewards by hunting Primordial Monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time moved to early morning the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The regional notification appeared once more:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Challenger Notification (Emperor Tomb Mountain Range Region): Player \"Iron Beating\" has successfully contained the First Generation Primordial Soul-Departed, receiving a 10,000 point Sacrificial Power reward and permission to freely unlock the fourth Star Vein socket.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This notification instantly sent the players into a frenzy, and they all issued inquiries in the regional channel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Game Brick Mover (Blood-Colored Plain): Big Brother Iron Beating, will you take disciples? Take us along to fight Primordials!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Family Shared Godfather (Blood-Colored Plain): Too fierce; soloing three Primordials, this strength is even more powerful than our entire team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cute Baby (Ancient Battlefield): Asking for advice, Brother Iron Beating, where did you find so many Primordial Monsters? Our team also wants to give it a try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marble (Ancient Battlefield): We just encountered a First Generation Primordial too, but its hunting level was 27, and we were instantly wiped out as a team; the ones Iron Beating encountered must be low-level Primordial Monsters, I'm so envious I could die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drunk Milk (Ancient Battlefield): He must be in the recently refreshed region on the map, \"Artifact Spirit Valley\"; let's set off immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the inquiries within the regional channel, Li Tie, who was in the midst of battle, didn't even glance at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he received a video call from his granddaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After connecting, his granddaughter, still in the form of a small fire chicken, said excitedly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grandpa, we want to watch you challenge the Artifact Spirits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\" Li Tie nodded, waving his hand to hide the video call interface floating before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, he was preparing to challenge the fourth Artifact Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the challenge began, Li Tie summoned the Star Vein Strengthening panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spent 1,000 points of Sacrificial Power to detach the initial Gargoyle soul spirit, then sequentially embedded the Savage, Soul-Departed, and Shattered monster soul spirits into his Star Vein.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subsequently, he used the remaining thirty thousand Sacrificial Power entirely to increase his Body Tempering level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each level cost 10,000 points of Sacrificial Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three consecutive flashes of white light passed over his body, his Body Tempering level reached Level 3, allowing him to simultaneously inherit all attributes of three types of monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tie stepped forward at this moment, entering the perception range of the Artifact Spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the remaining Sweeping Sword and Nether Ghost Staff shot towards him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tie lightly tapped the ground with his right foot; behind him, three illusory shadows of Artifact Spirits embedded in the Star Vein emerged, circling his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three ability traits subsequently appeared in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Savage Lv1]:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monster Trait: All physical attacks carry the \"Savage Strength\" effect, increasing damage by 50% and significantly strengthening one's own power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Soul-Departed Lv1]:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monster Trait: All physical attacks carry the Soul-Departed effect, inflicting a mental shock on the target and leaving a Soul-Forging Brand that burns continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Shattered Lv1]:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monster Trait: All physical attacks carry Penetration and Shattering effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guide Hint: When hunting and killing monsters in the main body form, evolution points obtained are shared by all monster forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the attacking Sweeping Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tie reached out and grabbed it, the Savage Axe landing in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson light rapidly spread from his right hand throughout his body; the trait effect of Savage surged into him, and Li Tie clearly perceived that his strength had received a significant boost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Savage Axe chopped out, meeting the Sweeping Sword head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of metal clashing rang out, and the Sweeping Sword was chopped away in a single strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Tie did not choose to press his advantage; he voluntarily released the Savage Axe in his hand, and instantly the Savage Axe turned into an illusion and continued to circle his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, what appeared in his hand was the Soul-Severing Spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great spear's material was neither metal nor iron; its entire body presented a deep blue-purple hue, as if condensed from stars; the spear shaft was long and slender, the spear tip flashing with cold sharpness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could faintly hear a low whistling sound from within the spear shaft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sweeping Sword attacked once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great spear struck out; the spear tip made contact with the tip of the Sweeping Sword, knocking the sword away once more, and also branding a deep blue mark onto the sword body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the power trait amplification of the Savage Axe, Li Tie, holding the spear, slid backward two meters as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After steadying his stance, Li Tie let go, and immediately the Soul-Severing Spear detached and hovered in mid-air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he did not switch to the Shattered Blade to fight, but instead caused the three Artifact Spirits to fuse in the air, transforming into a single golden battle blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this scene, the Fan Zui Gang members watching the livestream exclaimed in various ways within the voice channel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Late Night and Midnight Snack: Aaaah, Grandpa Iron is too handsome; truly my idol of many years; he even dismantled his initial monster form; is he planning to follow the Artifact Spirit path?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shrimp Meat Pig Heart: So handsome I could die; I want to follow the Artifact Spirit path too; what comparison does the Black Armored Snake have to an Artifact Spirit? Even the appearance of switching weapons is handsome, let alone the look after fusing weapon traits!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is This Reasonable: This game finally has a Star Vein path that I like; the Artifact Spirit path is much cooler than the Bone Fire plus Eagle-Head Demon remote perception and strike gameplay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asking for recommendation tickets during the early book phase~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1712,"2026-06-19T09:20:35.554Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5a754b93cb73c151549690f5de326e74d417270e65099269d760e4d680bcd769","monsters-are-coming-chapter-18","monsters-are-coming-chapter-16",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmonsters-are-coming-cover.jpg"]