Chapter 11: Leaving the City to Find Hidden Treasures
The triangular rhinoceros was far more frenzied than the prairie armored wolf. Upon their first encounter, Zhang Chu dared not confront it head-on. He dodged swiftly, and the beast crashed straight into the glass wall of Hunting Ground No. 1.
Boom!
Zhang Chu felt his ears ringing. The realism was overwhelming; the simulation replicated the triangular rhinoceros’ power perfectly. Even the glass walls of the hunting ground trembled. Fortunately, the dome was crafted from special materials, making it nearly impossible for any beast or martial artist below level 5 to shatter it. With built-in nano-repair technology, it could not be smashed with a single punch.
After several evasions, Zhang Chu deciphered the creature’s tactics: immense strength, massive size, and the three horns atop its head were perilous. Its flaw: less agile than the prairie armored wolf.
“Roar!”
On the fifth dodge, the triangular rhinoceros grew furious and lunged at him. “Now’s the moment!” Zhang Chu seized the opportunity, slid low beneath its charge, and landed a powerful punch to its neck.
Meanwhile, the viewing area on the eleventh floor was packed with clear-eyed university students. In the corner, the elegant Su Mingyue donned her AI glasses. Watching Zhang Chu send the rhinoceros flying with one punch, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Before coming, Su Mingyue had prepared herself mentally. Yesterday, Zhang Chu’s short video from the virtual hunting ground had stunned the entire school, herself included. Yet, witnessing the spectacle firsthand induced a crushing sense of awe and bitterness in her proud heart.
She could not accept it: the sycophant who once fawned over her had surpassed her and become a level 1 martial artist. Now, the entire school’s attention had shifted from her to Zhang Chu. Added to this was the anonymous "dog-head" student from the school's blood vitality testing center. Once a goddess, she had now fallen to third place. This reversal, Su Mingyue blamed entirely on Zhang Chu.
The five matches lasted an hour in total. Having gained experience from defeating the triangular rhinoceros the first time, Zhang Chu became increasingly adept in the following four bouts. Since it was a new beast, the ranking board was refreshed. Zhang Chu deliberately controlled his time, clearing the triangular rhinoceros leaderboard with a speed of 6.2 seconds, firmly holding first place.
It was a triple victory. Zhang Chu sensed a marked improvement in his martial skill proficiency and earned a tearful, hard-won 33,500 yuan. The atmosphere in the eleventh-floor viewing area was electric. Zhou Chuanxiong’s prize pool had doubled. Exiting Hunting Ground No. 1, Zhang Chu was drenched in sweat, feeling exhausted. After exchanging pleasantries with Zhou Chuanxiong and settling his earnings, his legs felt weak. He just wanted to head to the restaurant on the sixth floor for a meal to replenish his strength, and then exchange for a blood vitality pill.
“Zhang Chu!”
Just as he entered the elevator, a graceful figure slipped inside as well.
The gentle fragrance of orchid night—unmistakably Su Mingyue. Zhang Chu was surprised to see her.
“What’s wrong? Are you here for martial artist certification?”
Su Mingyue was about to speak, but Zhang Chu’s remark almost gave her a heart attack on the spot. Insult! It was a blatant insult. He knew full well her blood value was only 146, yet he said that. Su Mingyue clenched her delicate fists, but ultimately suppressed her anger. She had to state her purpose before the elevator reached the ground floor.
“Zhang Chu, I was wrong.”
The elevator reached the eighth floor, and Su Mingyue suddenly spoke.
“Wrong about what?” Zhang Chu replied calmly, without hesitation.
“Never mind, let’s just say you were entirely right. Anyone can master the art of insincere conversation.”
Zhang Chu was well-versed in this basic verbal fencing from his previous life. Su Mingyue was dumbfounded, speechless for a long moment. “You… what are you saying?”
“No need to apologize. You’re making the whole elevator feel insincere.” Zhang Chu waved his hand dismissively.
“Zhang Chu, I’m here on behalf of our homeroom teacher, Li Feng. The whole school knows you’ve made a comeback and become a level 1 martial artist. The school wants to give you the sole guaranteed spot for the Martial Arts Research Institute. You need to come with me to the school to complete the paperwork.”
Su Mingyue forced herself to remain composed as she explained her mission.
“Five days ago you came on his behalf to persuade me to drop out, now you’re here to bring me back.”
“Li Feng is shameless, and so are you.”
“Go back and tell Li Feng, the Martial Arts Research Institute’s spot is nothing but a scrap of paper to me.”
Ding!
The elevator stopped at the third floor. Zhang Chu brushed past Su Mingyue, disappearing from sight. Only when the elevator doors closed did Su Mingyue regain her composure, tears welling in her eyes. “Zhang Chu, how dare you treat me like this?”
Zhang Chu was no longer the sycophant with a fragile heart. Su Mingyue’s appearance did not affect his mood in the slightest. He ate and drank as usual.
Not to boast, but the Martial Arts Center’s restaurant had excellent food. While dining, he even encountered a few fangirls who immediately recognized him. After a frenzy of praise, they asked for photos. Zhang Chu declined the young men, but graciously posed for photos with a group of clear-eyed junior girls.
He wandered nearby until half past two in the afternoon before returning to the Martial Artist Center.
The Martial Artist Center was an official organization, operating nine-to-five with a two-hour lunch break. On the fifth floor, at the pill purchase window, the same young lady as yesterday was present. The moment Zhang Chu appeared, her eyes sparkled. Nearly all the staff at the Martial Artist Center now knew about Zhang Chu breaking his own records.
“Miss, please check how much money is on my card, and how many level 1 low-grade blood vitality pills I can buy at most.”
Zhang Chu handed over his martial artist card. The young lady was enthusiastic.
Quickly, the electronic display showed a balance of 53,250 yuan. Twenty thousand of it was his monthly base salary from signing an agreement at the Kewell Research Institute yesterday. The remaining 33,500 yuan was the money earned today at the virtual hunting ground.
“Zhang, you can only buy one pill this month,” the lady at the window said.
Only then did Zhang Chu recall: money wasn’t omnipotent. As a level 1 martial artist, he could only purchase three blood vitality pills per month. He couldn’t spend even if he wanted to. Standing there, Zhang Chu felt a pang of frustration.
“But tomorrow is the first,” the receptionist’s next words brought Zhang Chu relief.
He paid the money and bought one blood vitality pill, finding a secluded spot to take it in one gulp.
“Ding! Host has taken one blood vitality pill, blood value +10.”
Zhang Chu summoned the blue electronic panel with a thought:
Name: Zhang Chu
Level: 1
New blood value: +10
Total blood value: 176.1/500
Martial Skill: Sky Cannon (Level 1, low-grade)
Skill proficiency: Beginner
“Annoying!”
Looking at the blood value panel, Zhang Chu fell into deep thought. The virtual hunting ground could earn him the necessary goods to advance as a martial artist. But at his current level, he could only buy three blood vitality pills per month—greatly limiting his plan to advance to level 2 within a month.
“It seems I need another way.”
Zhang Chu hadn’t yet figured out an alternative, but he knew there were always some geniuses on the forum with connections. He planned to browse the forum tonight, hoping to find some scalpers. Even if the price was steep, as long as he could get unlimited blood vitality pills, he could practically live in the virtual hunting ground, earning money non-stop.
Back at the Martial Artist’s Home apartment, Zhang Chu scrolled through posts by various experts on the forum, until one scalper caught his eye.
“Almost forgot about her.”
The post was by Huang Lili; her username was the same on both the messaging app and the forum, so Zhang Chu recognized her at once. He quickly sent a message: “Sister Lili, do you know any channels for unlimited blood value purchases? Price is negotiable.”
“I don’t have any illegal channels like that,” Huang Lili replied instantly.
Before Zhang Chu could respond, she sent another message: “If you’re short on cash, you could consider going out of town with me to hunt for bargains. A few days ago, a student I took along found the core of a level 1 low-grade beast. He traded it directly on the black market for blood vitality pills.”
Going out of town to hunt for bargains?