Xi Yueyao quickly scampered over and happily claimed the Crystal Core for herself, daring anyone to try and take it from her.
The others didn't know what to say about Xi Yueyao's actions. After all, Feng Hao had killed the Iron-toothed Beast, and it wasn't like he was hurting for a single Second Order Crystal Core. So, they let her be.
Feng Hao shook his head with a wry smile. 'I really don't get this girl's way of thinking,' he thought. 'She's the Second Miss of the Xiyue Clan, yet she's coveting such a small prize. I wonder what kind of education Xiyue Peak provides.'
"Boss, what should I do with these two tusks? I don't have a use for them," Tu Xiaoshan asked, holding the two bluish-black tusks.
"Keep them. You can forge them into a suitable weapon. Even as a Defensive Mage, it's always good to have some offensive capability," Feng Hao said with a faint smile.
Tu Xiaoshan opened his mouth, then nodded and accepted the Iron-toothed Beast's tusks.
After dealing with the Iron-toothed Beast's corpse, the five of them continued their exploration. This small incident had further reassured Li Mufeng and the others of Feng Hao's strength, and they focused on diligently scouting their surroundings.
...
Breeze Forest lived up to its name as a haven for magical beasts; they appeared far more frequently than on the back mountain.
In just half a day, they encountered six different magical beasts. Any other team would have certainly bypassed beasts that weren't their target to avoid wasting time, but Feng Hao's squad was different.
With a powerhouse damage-dealer like Feng Hao on their side, any monster below the Second Order could be dealt with in a few hits. It barely slowed them down!
However, just after they had killed a level-nineteen Fire Spirit Python, they were ambushed by a group of second-year students looking to rob them.
The group of robbers consisted of four people, all level fifteen or higher. Their leader was a Second Order Sword Magic Master, flanked by a Defense Mage. Two twin youths wielding Magic Energy Guns stepped forward and aimed the barrels at Feng Hao's group, their arrogance palpable.
"First-years daring to come to Breeze Forest? You're simply courting death! Leave the Fire Spirit Python behind if you don't want a beating," the young Sword Magic Master declared.
"What are you looking at? Our captain is talking to you!" one of the twins snapped, glaring at Feng Hao.
Feng Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 'You can even get robbed during the trial assessment?' he thought.
Xi Yueyao, accustomed to having her way, wasn't about to take this insult. She stormed forward, yelling, "You dare try to steal my kill? Do you have any idea who my sister is?"
"I don't care who your sister is. Leave the Fire Spirit Python if you don't want to get hurt," the leading Sword Magic Master said coldly.
The eyes of the Defense Mage beside him flickered. He leaned in and whispered, "Captain, I think that girl is the Second Miss of the Xiyue Family."
"Xiyue Frost's sister?" The corner of the Sword Magic Master's mouth twitched, his expression clouding over with uncertainty.
At the mention of Xiyue Frost's name, the twins started to lose their nerve. "Captain, should we just drop it? Xiyue Frost is bad news."
The Sword Magic Master gritted his teeth. "What shitty luck. Let's go!"
With that said, the group of four prepared to leave with their tails between their legs.
But Feng Hao was already pissed off. There was no way he was just going to let them leave. He sneered, "Damn it, you think you can act all tough and then just walk away? Not so fast. You're not going anywhere."
The small band of robbers stopped in their tracks and turned to face Feng Hao, their expressions grim. "You brat, are you looking for death? Don't think you can get away with disrespecting your seniors just because Xiyue Frost has your back!"
"Captain, this kid needs to be taught a lesson. Let's show him what's what," the Defense Mage said, grinding his teeth.
"As long as we don't touch the girl, I doubt Xiyue Frost will have anything to say about it." The Sword Magic Master let out a cold laugh and walked toward Feng Hao, his gaze mocking. "Brat, let your senior teach you some manners!"
"Shit, you looking for a fight?" Zhang Meng swore, stepping forward to block them with his large frame.
Li Mufeng and Tu Xiaoshan did the same, rushing forward in anger, ready to fight.
The twins instantly aimed their guns at the three and sneered, "A bunch of level-thirteen runts dare to step up? Do you have a death wish?"
"I dare you to try anything! I'll have my sister take you all apart!" Xi Yueyao stood at the forefront, hands on her hips, radiating an aura of invincibility.
"Little girl, out of respect for your sister, I'll let it slide today," the Sword Magic Master said through gritted, frustrated teeth. "But this kid... I'm definitely going to beat him up today."
"How outrageous!" Xi Yueyao's face was flushed with anger, her small frame trembling with rage.
Feng Hao watched everything unfold with a cold expression. In a low voice, he said, "All of you, move."
Everyone froze for a second before hesitantly clearing a path. Zhang Meng couldn't help but whisper, "Boss, that guy's level twenty. Can you handle him?"
"I've even dared to fight Xiyue Frost. What do you think?" Feng Hao replied with a dismissive smirk, his gaze filled with contempt.
"Er... okay then." Zhang Meng was taken aback. He clicked his tongue and said no more, retreating to the side without another worry.
Seeing Feng Hao's companions back away, the Sword Magic Master's face twisted into a sneer. His eyes glinted playfully. "Brat, how would you like to die?"
Feng Hao paused for a moment, then turned to Zhang Meng and the others. "Are students allowed to kill each other?" he asked.
"Boss, don't listen to his bluffs. He wouldn't dare kill anyone even if you gave him ten times the nerve," Zhang Meng scoffed.
"Oh. That's a shame," Feng Hao said, looking slightly disappointed.
Xi Yueyao, waving her little fists on the sideline, huffed, "Medicine Boy, give him a good thrashing for me!"
"Haha..." The robbers all roared with laughter. The Sword Magic Master was laughing so hard he could barely breathe. "This is hilarious! A level-sixteen brat thinks he can beat me?"
"You talk too much," Feng Hao sneered. Gripping a Dark Moon Dagger in each hand, one forward and one reversed, he lunged.
"Ugh!" The Sword Magic Master's laughter died in his throat. He hadn't expected Feng Hao to attack so suddenly and scrambled to raise his Longsword to defend.
But it was difficult to defend when caught off guard, especially since Feng Hao, as an Agile Mage, already had the advantage in speed. With a flash of dark light from the dagger, its tip struck true, piercing the Sword Magic Master's shoulder.
If not for the rule against killing, that strike would have been aimed at his chest or his neck.
'An Agile Mage?' The Sword Magic Master smirked. 'Agile Mages have low damage output, and I'm wearing armor. A hit like that is nothing.'
In the next instant, however, the smirk vanished from his face. He felt a destructive energy surge into his body, wreaking havoc within and causing his Qi Blood to churn violently.
'Damn it, he uses Dark Force!' Feeling his Qi Blood plummet, the Sword Magic Master's expression finally turned grim. 'And it's the damn Dark Force Fifth Layer talent, no less!'
The Sword Magic Master instinctively tried to counterattack, but Feng Hao had already disengaged, giving him no opportunity to retaliate.
Seeing Feng Hao retreat, the Sword Magic Master ground his teeth in frustration. He furiously channeled his Magic Power, and a golden halo enveloped the Longsword in his hand. "Brat, let me show you the true power of a Second Order Mage!"
"Boss, watch out! He's charging an attack!" Li Mufeng shouted a hasty warning.
At the warning, Feng Hao grew cautious. 'Charge' was one of the more powerful strength-type talents. After charging, the user's damage would be amplified based on their strength stat. It was definitely not something to be taken head-on.
"Warning him is pointless! At this range, there's no way he can dodge my Secret Technique!" the Sword Magic Master sneered.
In the next instant, the Longsword in the Sword Magic Master's hand erupted with terrifying brilliance. He shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, his blade carving a massive arc of Sword Qi through the air. The surrounding grass and trees were instantly sliced in half, the display of power immense.
Feng Hao's expression hardened. A wide-area Secret Technique like this was indeed difficult to dodge, and without any armor, he certainly couldn't afford to take the hit.
Just as everyone thought Feng Hao was about to be hit, the corner of his mouth curved into a faint smile. He had already devised a counter. Using a large, nearby tree as a foothold, he launched himself into the air, effortlessly avoiding the arcing Sword Qi.
'Are you kidding me?' he thought. With his top-tier gaming instincts, he naturally knew that a wide, horizontal attack like this could only be dodged by moving along the Y-axis.
"Holy crap, the Boss actually dodged it?!"
A short distance away, Tu Xiaoshan's eyes were wide with disbelief. Feng Hao's split-second reaction was simply divine; it was a textbook example of how a Mage should fight.
The onlooking robbers were equally dumbfounded, unable to believe what they were seeing.
"This kid's pretty fierce, isn't he?" the Defense Mage stammered in amazement.
"Fierce doesn't even begin to cover it! He doesn't fight like a first-year. No, that's not right... he doesn't fight with the level of experience a junior academy student should have!" one of the twins said, swallowing nervously.
"When did a monster like that show up in the first year? I've never heard of him!"