"Get out of the way, don't block the path here."
The middle-aged man pointed at by Da Dao Tang had an impatient expression on his face as he drove away the peculiarly dressed young man beside him.
The young man was wearing a modified version of ancient-style black armor with a half-face mask covering his face.
He tugged at the middle-aged man, seemingly saying something discontentedly.
The middle-aged man ignored him and brightened up when he saw them approaching.
"Xiao Tang, you're here again? Just go in directly, I still have things to do and can't leave."
Da Dao Tang popped his head out from behind Qi Yuan and revealed a big smile, waving his hand. "Uncle, then we'll go in first."
"Alright, stay safe."
The middle-aged man was not young anymore, and Da Dao Tang looked about the same age as his daughter. He chuckled to himself.
Seemingly unable to see the middle-aged man being treated well, the young man jumped out and shouted loudly at them, "Why can they go in without having their documents checked, while I have my ID and still can't go in? I see you have dog eyes that look down on people. Thirty years on the west side of the river, thirty years on the east side of the river, don't provoke..."
The middle-aged man's broad palm landed on the back of the young man's head, "Don't you recognize your grandpa anymore?"
The sudden attack made the young man dizzy and instinctively retorted, "I'm still your grandfather."
"Lv Cheng, you brat, I really am your grandpa. I'll come to your house for dinner tonight."
"Ah...? You're really my grandpa?"
The middle-aged man's square face turned round with anger as he slapped him, "Don't provoke a poor middle-aged man like me. Get lost and go back honestly."
"Grandpa, please stop hitting."
The young man covered his head and scurried away, "I just moved here, haven't seen you yet. I'll leave now."
The middle-aged man's expression eased slightly, and he was about to let this little troublemaker go.
A girl with an oval face, long black hair cascading down her shoulders, and delicate features rushed out and shielded the young man behind her.
"What gives you the right to hit someone? Cheng gege, are you okay?"
The girl helped Lv Cheng up and gently stroked the injury on his face.
Whew!
The middle-aged man took a sharp breath.
This kid managed to attract such a beautiful girl?
It's rare to see such a clueless girl.
Just by looking at Xiao Tang's expression, the aura of the young man beside him, tsk tsk...
The middle-aged man coughed twice and put on a villainous face.
"If you can't join a team, then get lost. Don't get in the way here."
Cheng kid, this is as much as I can do for you, my grandpa.
Lv Cheng didn't appreciate his grandpa's kind intentions and reached out to stop the girl, "Wait..."
The girl hesitated for a moment, turned her head to confirm once again.
"You're related?"
"Yeah, stop. The plan to experience life and search for inspiration is canceled."
Lv Cheng frantically waved his hands. If they continued with this charade, his dad might serve him a bitter cup of juice at home.
Qi Yuan noticed the fish Luo moving forward a couple of steps beside him. After confirming repeatedly, he softly spoke.
"Xuan Xuan, you're so lively in private..."
The girl who called herself Xia Muling was taken aback by the bustling fish, and her pupils trembled.
Her face instantly turned red, even her ears turned red, and she spoke hesitantly.
"Yu Fan, why... why are you here?"
"I came to improve my combat skills, along with Xiao Tang."
Silence fell upon the scene...
Thanks to the invitation from Da Dao Tang, the two socially awkward individuals managed to escape the awkward situation.
The five of them walked together, heading towards the depths of the mountains.
With the establishment of the Monster Balanced Ecosystem, the environment in the hinterland gradually restored to a forest.
Apart from a small path trodden by adventurous students, there were no signs of human activity.
Thick foliage covered them from above, and rays of sunlight seeped through the cracks, casting patches of light on the leaf-strewn ground.
Qi Yuan flicked off the caterpillar on his shoulder and brushed away the red spider that had descended onto the brim of his hat.
They drew closer...
With a charged ball of light in his hand, Qi Yuan squinted his eyes, aimed carefully, and released the ball of light.
The ball of light streaked through the air, hitting the mutated rabbit that was still nibbling on grass.
A brilliant golden light burst forth from the rabbit, which died on the spot before it could even emit a cry of pain.
Qi Yuan stood up and squatted next to the rabbit, poking the charred remains with his finger.
The rabbit crumbled into debris upon his touch.
The mutated rabbit, relying on its instincts, didn't have time to react and defend itself with its abilities. It was no different from a normal rabbit.
After two live broadcasts, Qi Yuan gained considerable fame and recognition. With the acknowledgment of others, his strength continued to rise. Currently, his strength is estimated to be around D-level.
Assessing his own strength, Qi Yuan looked around, but the other four were nowhere to be seen. He became puzzled.
Earlier, they had heard Da Dao Tang say that he was a novice and wanted to test his strength before deciding which mutated animal to hunt.
Now that he had killed a rabbit, the others were nowhere to be found.
Qi Yuan took a few steps forward and seemed to hear the voices of several people.
He followed the sound and found Da Dao Tang and the other four confronting a few individuals.
"You, hand over your phone."
"You little brat," the chubby guy, dressed in branded clothes, reached out his chubby hand toward Lv Cheng. He had several gold rings on his fingers.
"Why would I give you my phone when you ask so rudely?"
Lv Cheng shook his head. The chubby guy seemed to come from a well-off family, so it would be better to resolve the situation peacefully.
The waves of her big hair, styled meticulously, and her inconvenient high heels in such a dangerous place—she gracefully took two steps forward, her red lips parting slightly: "Are you a paparazzo? My dear and I were just together. Who knows what might have been captured? If you don't even dare to hand over your phone, aren't you feeling guilty?"
Lv Cheng wore an expression of absolute disbelief and a hint of mockery: "Are you kidding? I don't even know you're a celebrity. Why would I take pictures of you?"
"Yeah, I haven't seen you on any gossip sites. You're not even famous enough to be featured in third-rate news, right?"
When it came to celebrities and her area of expertise, Xia Xuan's eyes lit up. Living in the women's restroom for so long, how could she not know who has been popular lately?
These two individuals teamed up to deliver a critical blow, causing the woman's delicate face to contort. With a deep breath, she glared at them with her eyes, clearly seething with anger.
She shook the sleeve of the chubby man and leaned in close, saying, "I tried to reason with them politely, but these two still managed to infuriate me."
The woman's coquettish behavior made the chubby man feel more powerful, and he puffed up his fat, saying, "You punk, don't toast and not drink. If you're given face, you should show some respect."
The bodyguard behind the chubby man took two steps forward, ready to strike, his imposing presence on full display.
Lv Cheng and his companions felt the pressure from his imposing presence, and their expressions changed simultaneously. This was a C-level esper.
Among this group of students, their ranks only reached D-level at best, let alone bridging the gap between intermediate and low levels.