At the heart of Nasi Farm, a figure strode forward with calm confidence. Noah, clad in a full set of level-20 A-rank warrior equipment and carrying a gleaming azure greatsword across his back, stepped into view of his classmates.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting." His tone was casual, yet it carried the weight of someone who had already far outstripped his peers.
The students of Second High stared at him in disbelief, still stunned by the number that floated above his head. Level 28. For them, barely scraping at levels between 3 and 15, that number was like a wall standing at the peak of an unreachable mountain. One after another, they hurried to wave their hands, insisting nervously, "No, no, you didn't keep us waiting at all. Only a few minutes!"
From the left, someone called out enthusiastically. "Noah, over here! Our Class Three is right here!"
With a smile tugging at his lips, Noah threaded through the crowd without hesitation. The moment he stepped into the circle of Class Three, his classmates' chests swelled with pride. For too long, Class Five had strutted around the school, flaunting Ethan Jiang's A-rank combat talent as though it made them untouchable. But now the tables had turned. With Noah's overwhelming presence, Class Three finally had their moment to shine.
At the front of the crowd, Ethan Jiang's silver greatsword glimmered beneath the sun. The young man, clad in dark armor that radiated the brutal aesthetic of pure power, stood like a warlord dropped from a battlefield of blood and iron. For a moment, his eyes lingered on Noah, flashing with a cocktail of admiration and loathing. Beneath the surface, jealousy roared like wildfire, eating away at his pride.
And yet, within seconds, his lips curled upward into the faintest shadow of a cruel smile.
S-rank talent, Ice Fury? Let's see how long you can keep shining. Soon enough, I'll turn that so-called talent into nothing more than wasted trash.
"Quiet, everyone!" Ethan clapped his hands sharply, his voice slicing through the chatter. His face took on a stern seriousness as he addressed the gathered students. "Now that everyone's here, let me explain the objective of today's practical training."
The rules were simple, yet the weight behind them was immense. Under Ethan's leadership, the students were to march westward from the novice village toward the Ruins of Gale City. There, their target awaited—a level-25 black wolf boss entrenched within the shattered castle. By battling this creature, they would not only test their combat skills but also begin to learn the true essence of teamwork.
Ethan pulled bundles of potions and shimmering novice teleport scrolls from his inventory, handing them over to the class leaders. "Here. The school's prepared supplies for all of you. Distribute them quickly."
The students gasped. These weren't cheap trinkets. Each teleport scroll alone cost eight hundred gold—forty thousand coins in total. Converted to Earth currency, that was a staggering forty million yuan. Clearly, the school had spared no expense in this "training session."
Soon enough, the supplies had been handed out. Noah glanced down at his share, unimpressed. Low-grade healing potions—compared to Dragon Phoenix Blood, they were worthless. One sip wouldn't even make his health bar twitch. Still, they were free. He tossed them into his void pouch with a shrug.
As he surveyed the bustling crowd, a voice like spring water rippling across stone suddenly drifted toward him.
"What are you looking for?"
Turning his head, Noah's eyes fell upon a female archer. She wore the standard, shabby beginner's outfit, but it did nothing to hide her breathtaking figure. Her curves strained against the fabric, her long legs seemed endless, and even her posture radiated confidence. Strapped across her back was a worn bow, her long pink ponytail catching the light like a burning flame. A specially crafted mask concealed her identity.
For a moment, Noah froze. "Uh… who are you supposed to be, beauty?"
The archer tilted her head, cheeks puffing up as she replied coyly, "Seriously? Who do you think I am?"
His brow furrowed. Her voice stirred something in his memory, but her appearance didn't match. Seeing his confusion, the girl stepped forward and yanked off her mask, revealing a face so flawlessly delicate it could stop a man's heart.
"This isn't enough of a hint?"
Noah blinked once. Twice. Then shook his head, deadpan. "Don't know you."
Her eyes widened in outrage. "Noah! I'm your father!"
"Get lost. I'm your grandpa." The retort rolled off his tongue instinctively, before he froze mid-sentence, staring at her in disbelief. "…Tang Xia?"
The archer stomped her foot, cheeks glowing crimson. "You did that on purpose!"
Noah raised a brow. "How's that my fault? Be honest, you've had more work done than half the entertainment industry. And you've got the nerve to say it's only 'a little touch-up'?"
Her lips trembled. "It was just a tiny bit!"
Noah nearly burst out laughing. "Tiny? You practically swapped faces!"
"And what's with the pink hair? What is this, cosplay?"
Tang Xia folded her arms proudly. "Haven't you heard? The pinker the hair, the stronger the character! With this look, it's way easier to get invited into parties!"
The corners of Noah's mouth twitched.
But she wasn't done. Her voice lowered, dripping with faux accusation. "Besides, don't act all innocent. You're the one hiding things, aren't you? No wonder you kept refusing to let me tag along—you already had Snow with you. And here I thought you were stuck at level one. Do you know how much I worried?" Her words faded until they were little more than a whisper.
Noah smirked, leaning slightly closer. "What's this? Sounds like jealousy to me."
Tang Xia's face flushed. "As if! Who'd be jealous over you?"
Before he could reply, the group began to move. At Ethan's command, the massive crowd set off, the imposing figure of their level-160 "leader" clearing the path with brutal efficiency. Along the way, Ethan showered the students with advice, explaining skill combinations, optimal attribute distribution, and how to maximize combat effectiveness against stronger foes. His words dripped with authority, and the students clung to each syllable like starving men grasping for bread.
Two hours later, the ruins finally came into sight. Gale City stood broken and desolate, its once-proud walls now crumbling under years of decay, weeds crawling up the stones like veins.
Noah and Tang Xia slipped into the ruins with the others, only to be greeted by two older players already waiting outside the castle. "You're here at last," one of them said. "Want us to come inside and help watch your backs?"
Ethan waved them off without hesitation. "No need. The purpose of this exercise is to simulate real combat as much as possible. Their levels are still low—if they die, the losses will be minimal. In fact, it'll serve as a valuable lesson for their future." His smile was faint but oddly chilling. "Of course, if things get truly dangerous, I'll step in. Surely, you trust me?"
The two veterans exchanged glances before nodding reluctantly. "In that case, we'll leave it to you."
Stepping forward, one of them addressed the gathered students loudly. "This practical exercise is limited to two hours. If you manage to kill the level-25 Black Wolf within that time, the school will reward you with a growth treasure. But—if more than half of you fall, we'll intervene immediately to save the rest!"
"Understood? Good. Then let's begin!"
The castle gates groaned as they swung open, and the horde of excited students surged inside.
Boom!
The gates slammed shut behind them, sealing their fate.
From his position at the rear, Ethan's lips curled upward into a venomous smile, his eyes gleaming with sinister delight.
The hunt had begun.