Translator: CinderTL
A young man carrying a sword case approached them on the mountain path.
The youth possessed striking beauty, but not of the conventional kind. His dark golden pupils and crimson lips gave his entire face an eerie, bewitching allure.
Jiang Ye sensed an aura of sinister charm emanating from him.
However, what truly startled Jiang Ye wasn't the young man's appearance, but rather the words floating above his head:
[Physique: Profound Physique (Lower D-tier)]
[Innate Talent: Dao Bone Aptitude]
"Dao Bone Aptitude," Jiang Ye murmured, staring at the subtitles above the youth's head.
This was the first time he had encountered Dao Bone Aptitude in someone other than Chen Zilu.
"Lower D-tier?" Jiang Ye was astonished. He knew that among mortal bodies, only A-tier was further divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers.
Could it be that starting with profound physiques, every tier was subdivided into upper, middle, and lower grades?
Lower D-tier profound physique.
Compared to Chen Zilu's Upper A-tier profound physique, that meant a difference of over ten tiers!
"It seems the gap between Dao Bone Aptitudes can be just as vast," Jiang Ye mused inwardly.
Wang Zi'ang turned to Zhao Qingli. "Do you know him?"
Zhao Qingli replied, "We went to the same middle school. His name is Wan Yaoyang. He's a real piece of work."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Ye asked, his curiosity piqued.
"He's exceptionally gifted," Zhao Qingli said coldly. "Since childhood, he's possessed a special ability: anyone who meets his gaze falls into temporary paralysis."
"Back then," she continued, "he frequently used this power to bully his classmates."
Wang Zi'ang listened with envy, shaking his head. "What a waste of talent! If I had that ability, the entire school would be my harem."
"He practically treated it that way back then," Zhao Qingli said coldly. "Anyone who dared to resist him, male or female, was brutally suppressed."
Jiang Ye asked curiously, "Did he bully you too, Class Monitor?"
"Of course he wouldn't dare touch me," Zhao Qingli sneered. "His victims were always the poor and those without connections."
Jiang Ye couldn't help but give the eerily handsome young man a long, thoughtful look.
"Why is he here alone? Isn't this a team mission?" Jiang Ye asked, puzzled.
"If you're strong enough, you can complete team missions solo," Zhao Qingli explained. "Wan Yaoyang currently ranks among the top ten in his grade at Qingyang High School. He's more than qualified."
Qingyang High School was in a different league compared to Ancheng's three high schools. As a provincial key high school, its top ten students all had a chance of entering the Top Ten Elite Schools.
In other words, Wan Yaoyang must have already achieved his first breakthrough.
He had likely progressed quite far along this path.
"Let's go out. It should just be the three schools left," Zhao Qingli said, rising to her feet.
Jiang Ye nodded and stepped out of the bushes with her.
Soon, the three teams converged at a fork in the mountain path.
Lin Yushu and his group approached first.
Seeing Lin Yushu's grotesquely ugly face again, Zhao Qingli's eyes flashed with undisguised disgust.
Lin Yushu, noticing her expression, showed no anger. Instead, a strange flicker of pleasure crossed his face.
Just then, he noticed the otherworldly youth standing nearby.
"Who is this?" Lin Yushu asked.
The youth ignored him completely.
Wan Yaoyang was staring intently at Jiang Ye, scrutinizing him closely.
Lin Yushu's face stiffened slightly. What a bumpkin, he thought coldly. Doesn't know how to show respect.
Here he stood, the strongest high school student in Ancheng.
Yet this newcomer ignored him, choosing instead to focus on someone with low-grade aptitude?
Blind fool!
Wan Yaoyang, of course, had no idea what Lin Yushu was thinking.
Still staring at Jiang Ye, he asked curiously, "What's your name?"
It had been a long time since Wan Yaoyang had seen a young man whose looks could rival his own.
Jiang Ye's appearance even subtly surpassed his.
This unfamiliar feeling stirred within Wan Yaoyang.
Before Jiang Ye could answer, Zhao Qingli interjected coldly, "His name is none of your business."
She had no intention of revealing Jiang Ye's name.
It might not be beneficial for him.
Wan Yaoyang smiled, unconcerned.
He turned to Zhao Qingli, his smile widening. "Long time no see, old classmate."
Zhao Qingli ignored him, her voice frosty. "We're all here for the extermination mission. Enough small talk. What's your plan?"
"Simple," Wan Yaoyang said with a casual smile. "I'll wipe out all the enemies myself. You can all go back and collect your rewards afterward."
"Such arrogance," Lin Yushu sneered. "Anyone would think you're a student from one of the Top Ten Elite Schools."
"Where did this country bumpkin crawl out from?" Wan Yaoyang said dismissively. "Ugly, stinky, and barking like a dog?"
"What did you say?" Lin Yushu's eyes turned icy.
He had already been simmering with resentment at Wan Yaoyang's dismissive attitude.
This remark completely ignited his fury.
Yet Lin Yushu forcibly suppressed his anger, his voice cold. "I'll settle this with you after the mission."
For now, the mission took priority.
Wan Yaoyang completely ignored the others. In his eyes, everyone present except Zhao Qingli was nothing more than an ant.
To Qingyang High School, Ancheng was just a poor, remote mountain village.
Calling these people "country bumpkins" was already being generous.
Phew~ Seeing that the two hadn't come to blows, Jiang Ye inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
If they had started fighting here and alerted the Hidden God Organization, things would have become very troublesome.
He turned to Zhao Qingli and whispered, "Class monitor, let's stick to our own teams."
Given the current situation, it was clear that cooperation with the other teams was out of the question.
Zhao Qingli nodded and took the lead, stepping toward the mountain.
Jiang Ye and Wang Zi'ang quickly followed.
Lin Yushu shot Wan Yaoyang a cold glare before leading his two companions after them.
Wan Yaoyang shook his head slightly, unconcerned.
For him, this mission was just a side job, a way to earn some extra money.
The upcoming Reserve Star Professional Assessment is what truly matters. I shouldn't waste time on unnecessary distractions, Wan Yaoyang thought to himself.
If not for that, his temper would have driven him to crush the man who had provoked him into the ground.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Wan Yaoyang strode into the mountain.
Moments later, all three teams had arrived near their destination.
Ahead, a massive cave loomed into view.
At first glance, the cave appeared remarkably well-concealed, overgrown with dense vegetation that made it seem entirely natural.
Yet upon closer inspection, subtle signs of human intervention became apparent.
"This is it," Jiang Ye murmured, lying prone on a slope, recalling his prior research. "This remnant stronghold houses thirteen individuals, ten of whom have reached Perfection in their cultivation method, with none having achieved their first breakthrough."
"There should be sentries posted outside the cave."
As Jiang Ye observed, a figure carrying a sword case strode forward.
Wan Yaoyang, his hands clasped behind his back, walked directly toward the cave entrance.
"Perfect. Let him test the waters," Jiang Ye thought, unfazed by the development. He settled in to wait.
On another slope, Lin Yushu watched Wan Yaoyang with a cold smirk. "What a fool. There must be an ambush waiting, yet he's walking right into it."
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a thunderous boom erupted.
Countless fallen leaves exploded from the ground.
A figure flashed forward, slashing a blade toward Wan Yaoyang's back with lightning speed.
Yet Wan Yaoyang remained utterly oblivious, seemingly unaware of the imminent attack.
Only when the blade was a mere half-foot from his back did he react.
Clang!
In an instant, the sword case on his back shuddered violently, and a blade of light shot skyward.
Pfft!
The assassin lunging at Wan Yaoyang was cleaved in two at the waist by the sword light, his body splitting into two halves that crashed to the ground.
Blood gushed forth in a crimson torrent.
Wan Yaoyang's expression remained serene, as if he hadn't even moved his hands. He calmly continued toward the mountain cave.
"So powerful!"
Lin Yushu's pupils constricted as he witnessed the scene.
Since returning from the cosmic tempering, he had already achieved his first breakthrough.
Yet Wan Yaoyang's strike had been so swift, he hadn't even seen it!
"Who is this person? How can he be so strong?!" Lin Yushu's face turned ashen.
Just then, he noticed Jiang Ye, Zhao Qingli, and their companion sprinting toward the cave.
Without hesitation, Lin Yushu led his own team of two toward the entrance as well.
As the three teams entered the cave,
Several hundred meters away,
Two figures stood atop the canopy of a towering tree, gazing toward the cave's entrance.
These were Zhang Jianwu and Cang Haisong.
For such encirclement missions, the school always assigned elite guardians to provide covert protection, just in case.
But their involvement this time went beyond mere oversight.
Zhang Jianwu gazed toward the mountain cave and remarked casually, "Even Wan Yaoyang from Qingyang High School has shown up. Looks like we won't even need to lift a finger this time."
Cang Haisong shook his head. "Wan Yaoyang alone won't be enough to handle this."
"This hideout is harboring several giant rats nearing their first breakthrough and two approaching their second."
A hint of amusement flickered across his face.
Zhang Jianwu nodded slightly, chuckling. "Wan Yaoyang is about to take the Reserve Star Professional Assessment next month. Why would he risk getting involved in this mess? If it affects his performance, he'll have sacrificed a major opportunity for a minor gain."
Cang Haisong continued, "Speaking of which, I plan to have Lin Yushu try the Reserve Star Professional Assessment next month. What about your school?"
"No one."
"Again?" Cang Haisong exclaimed in surprise. "Ancheng Third High School hasn't had any participants for years now."
Zhang Jianwu shook his head. "The Reserve Star Professional Assessment is a battlefield for geniuses."
"Ancheng Third High School is, at the end of the day, just a third-rate high school. We don't stand a chance in that competition."
A trace of resignation tinged his voice.
(End of the Chapter)
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