Gao Wu: Honey, don't cry, I'm truly invincible!

squeak-

The door opened, and Ning Qiushui, dressed neatly and looking dashing, stood outside. When she saw Qin Su come out, she handed Qin Su a tactical backpack.

"Here you'll find dry rations, a distress button, and some other necessities for wilderness survival. Take these."

Qin Su took the tactical backpack.

They went out the door together with Ning Qiushui.

I just got on the bus.

【Ding! 】

At this moment, a system notification sounded in Qin Su's mind.

[After a period of training, the host has acquired a certain level of strength. However, for a martial artist to go further and achieve greater heights, a broad perspective and understanding are essential. Now, it's time for the host to explore higher levels. Please follow your girlfriend, Ning Qiushui, to Forbidden Zone 103 to broaden your horizons!]

[Mission issued: Trial Observer, observe your girlfriend Ning Qiushui's actions and broaden your horizons!]

[Mission Difficulty: ☆☆☆☆☆ (As long as you don't do anything reckless and follow your girlfriend's instructions, you still have a chance to complete the mission. However, you might become a burden to your girlfriend, leading to your mutual demise in the restricted area. After all, this restricted area is extremely dangerous even for someone of Ning Qiushui's strength.)]

[Mission Reward: Comeback Points. (The higher the score, the more Comeback Points you will receive, up to a maximum of ten million. Please strive to achieve the highest score.)]

[Note: The host may choose to refuse this task, but the next task will be issued at an unknown time after refusal, and the host may be in a long period without tasks. Please weigh the pros and cons carefully.]

Looking at the words that appeared on the system panel in front of him, Qin Su felt a little strange.

It's just a restricted area for generals; why would he need to be a trial observer?

Who do you think you are?

The system hadn't given him any tasks for a while, and when it finally did, it was as abstract as ever.

But who cares? As long as I can actually get some benefits, that's all that matters.

The one-hour journey ended amidst bumps and jostles.

"Asu, we've arrived at our meeting place."

As the vehicle slowly came to a stop, Ning Qiushui's voice rang out, sounding somewhat somber.

"Is this the entrance space wormhole to the 103rd restricted area?" Qin Su looked up at the outside.

This place resembles a market, with vehicles coming and going and few buildings, mostly consisting of detachable prefabricated houses. Many dusty-looking martial artists are setting up stalls and hawking their wares.

Further on, you can see the city walls of Xinghan City, which are hundreds of meters high.

Compared to bustling metropolises, this place is more like a small village on the outskirts of the city, or a post-apocalyptic car campsite. Though small, it has everything you need, and everything is kept simple.

It was nothing like the heavily guarded area outside the No. 1 restricted zone.

"It seems that small restricted areas, especially those that only produce low-level source beasts, are no longer a threat to humanity."

Qin Su pondered to herself.

The so-called low-level source beasts naturally refer to source beasts below the sixth level, and there are countless ways to deal with them.

As for those above the sixth rank, they belong to high-level source beasts. The forbidden zones where such source beasts are born require powerful individuals to guard them.

For example, the No. 1 restricted area is like this, with a martial arts master guarding it year-round.

After jumping out of the car, Ning Qiushui showed her wristwatch and tapped the screen twice, which displayed a small 3D navigation map.

Ning Qiushui glanced at it twice, then lifted her leg and walked in one direction.

Guided by the navigation, Ning Qiushui and Qin Su turned left and right until they finally arrived at an open space.

Calling it an open space wouldn't be accurate, because dozens of students had already gathered there, each with their own trial assistants. Those who knew each other huddled together, forming small circles.

It's worth mentioning that none of these trainees were weaker than a Martial General, and their trial assistants were almost all high-level Martial Generals, with some even approaching the Martial Marquis level.

This made Qin Su sigh in admiration. This is the younger generation of Xinghan City. Any one of them would be a genius among geniuses.

"Are we just going to stand here?"

Qin Su then looked at Ning Qiushui.

He meant for Ning Qiushui to go and chat with her friends and not worry about him.

Ning Qiushui naturally understood his subtext, but simply smiled and shook her head, then pulled him to sit down on a nearby public bench.

At this moment, Qin Su also noticed something was wrong. The students looked at Ning Qiushui with disdain. After she pulled him to sit down, those students who were closer to them quietly moved away.

Several people pointed and whispered about Qin Su and Ning Qiushui, occasionally making jeers.

Qin Su frowned slightly, his face cold as he was about to get up when Ning Qiushui gently tugged at him.

"Qiu Shui, I can't stand seeing them treat you like this," Qin Su said coldly. "I can't just watch you suffer and be isolated."

Ning Qiushui shook her head and said softly, "I'm not strong enough, and I came to Xinghan City with you. I didn't get in on my own merits; I benefited from your success. It's normal for me to be looked down upon by those talented individuals who fought tooth and nail to get into Xinghan City."

She didn't tell Qin Su that this trial was actually related to whether she could stay at the academy to continue her studies.

Because compared to the top geniuses of Xinghan City, she is far inferior.

Even if the university takes care of her out of consideration for Qin Su, there are limits. They have to consider the impact on public opinion and cannot unconditionally tolerate her.

Furthermore, she was a proud and arrogant person, and she could not allow herself to become a laughing stock. She could not possibly stay in the academy when all her classmates isolated her, mocked her, and thought she was not worthy to be their classmate.

But only through systematic martial arts training at an academy can she go further.

Therefore, she really needs Qin Su's help.

If she can stay after this trial and buy herself some time, she will definitely have a smoother path ahead and eventually trample all those who look down on her underfoot.

After awakening her Divine Phoenix Physique, she had this confidence.

Qin Su remained silent for a while. Although Ning Qiushui didn't say anything, he guessed the predicament she was facing.

"Qiu Shui, you used to be my support, now it's my turn to be your support. Don't worry, I will definitely make sure you get what you want."

Qin Su gently took her hand, interlocking their fingers to give her courage and strength.

Ning Qiushui felt the strength emanating from his palm, and a breathtaking smile appeared on her lips. She had never regretted choosing Qin Su as her man, whether in the past or now.

After waiting a while longer, the teachers from Xinghan Academy who were leading the team to the 103rd restricted area for the trial finally arrived.

There were two people, both at the Martial Marquis level. After they arrived, they began to count the number of people. Once they confirmed that everyone was present, they began to emphasize the precautions to the group of trainees.

They then went to each of the trainees one by one, patiently reminding them to be careful and handing out distress signal sticks.

"This is the latest scientific achievement. Even if you're on the other side of the universe, as long as you break it, we can still receive a distress signal. It'll form a double safety net with the distress button in your backpack..."

When the two teachers leading the group walked up to Ning Qiushui, they both hesitated for a moment.

"Ning Qiushui, the intensity of Forbidden Zone No. 103 is far beyond your capabilities. For your safety, I would like to suggest again that you do not participate in this trial. There is nothing wrong with giving up."

"Yes, Ning Qiushui, I admire your courage, but when the gap in strength becomes too large, courage is no longer courage, but recklessness. Teacher Li and I both hope that you can seriously consider our suggestions."

Sometimes, ordinariness is a kind of happiness. Not pursuing achievements that are unattainable and being content with the status quo is perhaps a philosophy of life...

The two teachers leading the team spoke very seriously.

Before Ning Qiushui could speak, Qin Su said with a smile, "But teachers, martial arts cultivation is inherently like rowing against the current, going against the heavens. If one gives up the trial because of danger and loses the will to forge ahead, then wouldn't that martial artist be ruined?"

The two teachers glanced at Qin Su and, seeing that he was only at the intermediate level of martial arts, shook their heads, sighed, and didn't bother to say anything more.

Ning Qiushui, this kid, thinks that finding a mid-level martial arts general as a trial assistant will allow her to enter that forbidden zone and give it a shot? Too naive.

Once she enters Forbidden Zone 103, she will realize that even a mid-level martial arts general would struggle to protect himself, let alone have the energy to help her complete the trial.

Anyway, that's all I have to say. Good advice is useless against a damned devil. If Ning Qiushui insists on banging her head against a wall, then let her have her turn and let her have a good bang against the wall.

Those of them who are teachers have already done their best.

They handed the distress signal stick to Ning Qiushui and then turned and left.

The other students around, who were watching the commotion, all wore disdainful sneers when they saw that Ning Qiushui really dared to court death.

They couldn't be bothered to mock these pretty faces; they just waited to see what would happen.

After the distress signal flares were distributed, the two instructors led the group of students to the entrance of the spatial wormhole in restricted area number 103.

"We won't waste any more words, just a few final reminders."

Standing in front of the wormhole, the two teachers leading the group were still somewhat worried and gave them another reminder:

"The way to use the distress signal stun gun is to break it in half. Don't forget, if you encounter a life-or-death crisis, break it immediately. This way, our rescue team inside the restricted area will receive the message immediately and arrive at your location within ten seconds."

"Generally speaking, your safety is absolutely guaranteed. Of course, if you break the signal flare or press the distress button, it means that your trial has ended prematurely, and you will not be allowed to enter the restricted area again."

"Therefore, don't think that having security guarantees means you can rest easy. There are countless dangers in the restricted area. Remember, always be careful! Furthermore, the longer you can survive in the restricted area, the more extra points you will receive in the end."

"Remember, this trial will last for three days. Do not withdraw early unless your life is in danger! Alright, that's all. Everyone, prepare to enter the restricted area!"

The sensory experience of entering the wormhole in the restricted zone 103 is not much different from that of entering the wormhole in the restricted zone 1.

The difference is that the spatial wormhole in this No. 103 restricted area seems to be randomly teleported. After Qin Su and Ning Qiushui entered the No. 103 restricted area, they did not see anyone else next to them.

Furthermore, there was no spatial wormhole behind them. This indicates that they would need to find a specific exit to get out.

Ning Qiushui then opened her watch, brought up the 3D navigation map, looked at it, and pointed behind her, saying, "The exit of the spatial wormhole is only three thousand meters behind us, not far. So what do we need to do now?"

She looked at Qin Su.

Qin Su didn't speak. After adjusting for a moment, she began to look around.

What came into view was a barren wasteland, the earth a crimson red, and the sun overhead was extremely intense. I sensed that the temperature in the air was probably around 150 degrees Celsius.

As for the ground beneath our feet, the temperature is only more extreme.

However, to Qin Su's surprise, the amount of cosmic energy in the air was almost ten times that of Earth. Of course, it was also ten times more violent.

If one cultivates in this forbidden zone for a short period of time, one will definitely gain a lot. However, if one cultivates for a long period of time, one will probably be affected by the violent cosmic energy to a certain extent. A drastic change in personality is secondary; the real fear is that one might go insane.

"breathe.........."

Qin Su tried breathing exercises, and with each breath, rich cosmic energy surged into his body, causing his strength to visibly increase.

However, Qin Su also clearly felt that a strange force was trying to invade his sea of ​​consciousness.

He mobilized his mental power, trying to eliminate the strange force. To his surprise, the strange force, which was clearly only a tiny wisp, was like a stabilizing force against his vast mental power, and was difficult to destroy.

Qin Su had a strange feeling, as if this trace of power was more advanced than his mental power.

"That's really strange..."

Qin Su mobilized a large amount of mental energy and even his blood energy, and finally, after a great deal of effort, he managed to eliminate that strange power.

"Qiu Shui, don't try to practice breathing exercises here." He then quickly said to Ning Qiu Shui.

Ning Qiushui was somewhat taken aback upon hearing this. If she didn't practice breathing exercises to replenish the energy and blood she had consumed, was she just going to sit around and eat up all her resources?

"Use these things to restore it."

Qin Su took some cultivation resources from the system's warehouse and gave them to Ning Qiushui.

These were all gifts from Yin Wuji. There were already many, but with the effect of the talent—that one's efforts yield a hundredfold return—the amount piled up into a mountain.

He originally intended to give all these resources to Ning Qiushui, but unexpectedly, before he could give them away, these things came in even greater use.

"As long as you don't breathe air, you should be able to ignore that strange power in the air."

As Qin Su thought this through, his focus shifted to helping his girlfriend, Ning Qiushui, complete the trial. After a moment's thought, he suddenly activated his psychic power technique—Psychic Detection—with a diameter range of five thousand meters.

"Let's go. We'll go hunt down the Source Beasts."

...........

.......

Three hours later.

Restricted Area No. 103, in the wilderness.

boom!

Qin Su wielded the fifth-tier Gale Blade, and with a single strike, he cleaved a massive, snarling hyena in two.

Qin Su then stepped forward, cleaved the hyena's head in two with a single stroke, and extracted the bloody crystal core. "Ranking score of 198."

Ning Qiushui gasped. This hyena was something that had left her helpless. Its skin was as hard as metal armor, and it had even chipped the blade of her knife.

Unexpectedly, they were so easily defeated in front of Qin Su.

Before she could even feel happy, she suddenly noticed something and exclaimed, "Asu, this is bad! More hyena beasts are closing in! There are too many of them. There are only two of us, and I'm just a burden. We can't defeat them. Let's retreat quickly!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Su turned her head and saw dozens of large, ferocious-looking hyenas slowly closing in.

Their steps were light, their mouths dripped with ferocious saliva, and their eyes were as sharp as blades, staring intently at Qin Su.

"Oh no, we're surrounded! We can't escape!"

Ning Qiushui exclaimed in surprise. She saw that dozens of hyenas had appeared on their retreat route.

Unlike her nervousness, Qin Su appeared relaxed and said with a smile, "If we can't run away, then we won't. There are over fifty in front, over thirty behind, and eighty on both sides. At one ranking point per fourth-tier source beast, there are one hundred and sixty ranking points here. Let's not miss out."

The words fell.

As if enraged, the hyenas from all directions charged forward, howling.

Ning Qiushui's face turned pale; she couldn't think of a way to break this deadlock.

Qin Su smiled slightly, making no move, and waited quietly until the hyenas were almost in front of him, their foul stench reaching his nose, before he finally made his move.

"Draw the fine gold dagger!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.........

One hundred fine gold daggers sliced ​​through the air, unleashing their power and shooting out in all directions with boundless chill.

The sounds of metal slamming into flesh echoed continuously.

Ning Qiushui felt dizzy and disoriented. By the time she could see the situation clearly, all 160 hyenas had been dismembered and were lying dead on the ground.

Blood flows into a river.

She was dumbfounded, staring blankly at Qin Su. So many hyenas... and he could kill them instantly?

Qin Su remained calm and collected 160 crystal cores cleanly and efficiently. After calculating his ranking points, he already had more than 350. Then he turned around and waved to Ning Qiushui, signaling her to follow.

He then led Ning Qiushui past the hyena corpses and, relying on his mental power, continued to hunt down other source beasts with precision.

Not long after he and Ning Qiushui left, an old man and a young girl cautiously approached the place.

"That fourth-tier hyena pack is the largest in the entire restricted area number 103. If we can wipe out that fourth-tier hyena pack before the other students, my ranking points will increase by nearly two hundred, making me the undisputed number one!"

The younger youth had a burning light in his eyes; he was determined to take first place in the trial!

"According to real-time intelligence, the total ranking scores of the students who are most likely to pose a threat to you, young master, are currently 38, 36, 21, 29, and 32, respectively. The overall increase is slightly slower than it was an hour ago."

The old man beside him smiled and said, "If the young master can obtain nearly two hundred ranking points from the fourth-tier hyena clan, he can widen the gap between them in an instant."

As he spoke, the old man sincerely praised, "To think of obtaining the distribution map of the source beasts in the 103 forbidden zones in advance is a brilliant move. Young Master, you truly deserve to be the junior whom the family head has placed high hopes on. You are exceptionally intelligent."

Gao Feng burst into laughter upon hearing the old man's flattery, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light.

With the Source Beast distribution map in hand, he can focus on areas with a high concentration of Source Beasts and obtain the highest score within the limited trial time. In this way, he will definitely be able to win first place in the trial.

"This time, I'm not just going to get first place, I'm going to get a landslide victory! The competition in Starry Sky City is too fierce. To stand out from the crowd, I need to make a name for myself right from this moment on!"

A glint of ambition gleamed in Gao Feng's eyes.

The old man beside him said earnestly, "Young master, please do as you say. For the honor of the family, this old servant will risk his life to protect you."

"As long as this old servant is here, young master will be able to reap ranking points to his heart's content without any interference!"

Gao Feng patted the old man's shoulder with some emotion. Thinking of his parents' eager eyes and the glory he would have when he reached the pinnacle of honor, his breathing became heavier and his steps quickened. He wished he could tear the fourth-tier hyena clan to shreds right now.

However, he was soon stunned.

Because in the wilderness, where would you find any hyenas roaming?

"Huh? What's going on? Where are the hyenas? Did they run off to a shady spot to escape the heat?"

With a hint of doubt, Gao Feng took out a small detection instrument and examined it for a while, but still couldn't find a single hyena.

"Young Master, there's a sword mark here that contains the power of wind and thunder!"

The old man suddenly spoke up.

Knife marks?

Gao Feng's expression changed. Could it be that the fourth-tier hyena clan had already been slaughtered?

"Impossible! How long has it been? We rushed here without stopping after entering the restricted area, less than ten minutes ago. And this fourth-tier hyena pack has nearly two hundred hyenas. In such a short time, even two hundred pigs couldn't kill them all. How could they all be killed? No one can do it, at least not at the Martial General level..."

Gao Feng said this, but he had a very bad feeling in his heart, and his face turned a bit ashen.

But a sliver of hope remained in my heart.

He refused to believe it and started searching.

until--

He saw the hyena carcasses scattered all over the ground, their crystal cores removed.

He was silent.

"Let's go, to the next group of source beasts immediately."

Gao Feng took a deep breath, knowing that now was not the time to be angry; the most important thing was to seize the time to gain ranking points.

The old man didn't dare say anything more at this point, and followed him, quickening his pace to leave the place.

Before long, they arrived at the location of the second large group of source beasts.

Looking at the vast expanse of corpses, he fell silent once more.

Then they rushed to the next location without stopping, only to find another pile of corpses.

Continue on your way.

Continue to see the corpse.

Then we continued on our way.

Then you see the body.

Gao Feng grew increasingly silent as he walked, his entire being resembling a volcano about to erupt, maintaining his silence as well as his last vestige of rationality.

But the anger and madness in his eyes were impossible to suppress.

"It's the only way. I still have one last chance to turn things around. I refuse to believe that bastard can get there before me..."

Gao Feng and the old man beside him continued on their way, this time using the speed they had never used before.

"The Fiery Wildebeest are known for their ferocity and thick hides. Their herds are enormous, numbering in the tens of thousands, and even their kings possess strength approaching the fifth rank, making them incredibly formidable. Defeating them to gain ranking points will be time-consuming and difficult, and one wrong move could easily result in injury."

"But there's no other way. If I still want to win first place on the cliff, I have to take the risk..."

As they approached the habitat of the Flamehorn herd, Gao Feng couldn't help but mutter to himself, his eyes filled with a final glimmer of hope.

The old man beside him said in a deep voice, "Young master, with this old servant here, I will definitely make sure you..."

"Don't speak."

Gao Feng suddenly interrupted him, stopped in his tracks, and tilted his head slightly with a grim expression.

The old man looked at him, puzzled. After a while, seeing his face growing increasingly ashen, he cautiously asked, "Young master, what's wrong?"

Gao Feng clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and said weakly, as if he were exhausted, "The Flaming Wildebeests are very ferocious. As soon as any human gets close to them, they will quickly attack."

"But right now, don't you think it's a little too quiet around us?"

Upon hearing this, the old man realized that it was indeed too quiet, as if all living things had disappeared.

"Let's go, keep going forward. I refuse to believe this evil today. Some people have even managed to kill all the Flaming Wildebeests before I can."

As Gao Feng spoke, he didn't even bother to wait for the old man to catch up with him, and rushed straight towards the habitat of the Flaming Wildebeest, which was marked on the map.

He froze in place when he arrived at the habitat of the Fiery Wildebeest.

Before them lay tens of thousands of dismembered corpses, and the air still held the lingering effects of violent energy.

The way these fiery horned horses died was exactly the same as the previous source beasts!

And let's not even talk about those Flamehorns with crystal cores that can be counted as ranking points. Damn it, that bastard didn't even leave a foal behind; he slaughtered them all.

You beast!

Gao Feng was completely dumbfounded, and even started trembling.

He wanted to curse, but he also wanted to cry.

Damn it, nothing grows where he goes! Where did this beast come from?!