Chapter 5

"Hey!"

Xu Xiao was taken aback by Lu Li's words, feeling a tightness in his chest. He stomped his foot and followed angrily.

The corridor of the insect nest was not very long. After walking bent over for dozens of meters, the surroundings suddenly opened up.

Ma Han raised his flaming longbow and looked around with the help of the firelight.

However, what he saw almost made him wet his pants.

The vast underground space was filled with densely packed insect eggs.

Each egg was as big as an adult's head, slowly wriggling in the firelight.

"So many insect eggs, if they all hatch..."

Xu Xiao muttered, not daring to think further.

At this moment, she understood what Lu Li wanted to do and felt a bit ashamed.

"Lu Li, if these insect eggs hatch, they will pose a huge threat to the school. We'll help you clean them up!"

"Whatever."

Lu Li did not stop them. After all, his goal was to increase his soul points, and having three more people to help would save his energy.

The unhatched insect eggs, apart from being disgusting, had no offensive power.

After a busy session, Lu Li gained nearly 20 soul points.

[Ding, detected player Lu Li's soul points reaching 50 points, unlocking Soul Soldier!]

A Soul Soldier, as the name suggests, is a soldier reshaped from collected souls.

Each soul point is equivalent to one experience point.

With Lu Li's current soul points, he could reshape a Level 2 Blade-Armed Mantis.

Moreover, as long as Lu Li's soul points did not drop to zero, the Soul Soldier would be immortal and eternal!

There was also an unexpected surprise.

The unhatched mantis eggs were judged to be Blade-Armed Mantises, allowing Lu Li to easily complete the advanced task.

[Detected player Lu Li has killed 100 Blade-Armed Mantises! Advanced ability task completed!]

[Task reward: Challenger Chest ×1, ability 'Blade Arm' advanced to Platinum tier!]

Choosing to put the reward aside for now, Lu Li stretched contentedly.

Just as he was pondering where to go next to kill monsters, an announcement suddenly appeared on the data panel.

[Congratulations to player Zhao Hui for becoming the first player globally to reach Level 1, rewarded with a Black Iron Upgrade Chest ×1!]

...

"Zhao Hui?"

Zhao Jin, who was unsure how to complete the Clan Lord task, stared at the announcement on the panel, a hint of joy appearing on his face.

The name was unfamiliar, not from the Zhao family's main line.

The announcement's location was at Yongcheng No. 1 High School, which was very close.

A very good candidate for recruitment!

"Ao Hao," Zhao Jin called out.

A scar-faced bald man appeared at the door.

"Boss Jin, you called?"

"Did you see that kid named Zhao Hui? Go and bring him back, make sure he's safe and sound, I want him alive and unharmed."

The bald man named Ao Hao nodded and was about to leave.

Zhao Jin stopped him again: "Wait, it's a special time now, take your gear with you."

Ao Hao, expressionless, said: "Is that necessary, Boss Jin? Those insects can't threaten me."

"Take it with you, and also bring ten Origin Crystals. If you encounter an emergency, use them to level up."

"Okay."

...

In the classroom.

"Damn it, what kind of setting is this? Only ten Origin Crystals can be absorbed per day?!"

Zhao Hui stared at the panel in front of him and cursed.

He thought that with the Origin Crystals he had gathered, he could at least level up a couple of times.

But after absorbing ten Level 1 Origin Crystals, the system actually prompted that he had reached the daily absorption limit?

With such strict level restrictions, how could he, a genius, become great and strong?

Seeing Zhao Hui suddenly fly into a rage, Wang Xuyan, who was serving him, turned her eyes and flattered him:

"Boss Zhao, don't get angry. I think the system's level restriction is actually good for you."

"Oh? Why is that?" Zhao Hui, feeling the comfort from his body, asked.

"Think about it, since everyone has a limit on the number of Origin Crystals they can absorb daily, it's like everyone is forced to start on the same level."

"And you have awakened a Diamond-tier ability, which is something those trash can never get!"

"At the same level, you will always be ahead."

"Not bad, so the level restriction is actually beneficial to me."

Hearing Wang Xuyan's explanation, Zhao Hui's face lit up, and he threw the unabsorbed Origin Crystals forward.

"These three Origin Crystals, you can absorb them. Follow me, and I won't let you down!"

Wang Xuyan hurriedly caught the Origin Crystals, her smile becoming even more flattering:

"Thank you, Boss Zhao!"

Seeing all the Origin Crystals fall into Wang Xuyan's hands, Ying Zian's expression turned gloomy.

To assert his presence, he flattered:

"Boss Zhao, you are the first Level 1 player globally. The announcement said there's an upgrade chest, why not open it and let the brothers see?"

"Hmm? You want to see?"

Zhao Hui said with a half-smile.

Ying Zian immediately realized he had said the wrong thing, cold sweat drenching his back:

"Uh, Boss Zhao, I didn't mean it that way..."

Before he could finish, he was hit by an electric arc on the shoulder, flying backward and knocking over a row of desks.

"Wang Xuyan, heal him. Don't let my 'brother' die like this."

Zhao Hui coldly ordered.

Wang Xuyan nodded obediently, and the next second, green light particles landed on Ying Zian's body.

The wounds from the Lightning Arrow quickly healed, leaving no trace.

But the pain did not dissipate so quickly.

"Cough, cough... Boss Zhao, I was wrong..."

Ying Zian, recovering, spoke hesitantly and crawled toward Zhao Hui on his knees.

"Hmph, brother? When you're a dog, you should know your place. Don't try to be smart!"

Zhao Hui's words were cold, and his attitude was one of arrogance, treating Ying Zian as less than human.

"Go stand by the door. I don't want to see your ugly face right now!"

"Yes, yes! I'm just your dog, I won't do it again, I won't do it again..."

Ying Zian crawled out of the classroom.

"Hmph, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you see."

Zhao Hui seemed satisfied with Ying Zian's attitude and displayed the upgrade chest he had obtained to everyone.

With a light click, the black chest opened, emitting a dazzling red light!

"Damn, so bright!"

"Truly worthy of Boss Zhao Hui opening the chest, it must be an epic item!"

"Brother Hui is so awesome!!"

Before the chest was fully open, the flattery had already reached a fever pitch.

When the red light subsided, everyone could see the item in the chest.

It was a blood-red Origin Crystal.

"It's a Level 2 Origin Crystal!"

Tian Yuhao spoke first, his voice so loud that even Ying Zian outside the classroom could hear clearly.

As the only player under Zhao Hui with the [Scout] ability, he had prepared to investigate before the chest opened, to show his worth and flatter Zhao Hui.

"I thought Origin Crystals were only black and gray, didn't expect to get a red one. Boss Zhao really opened our eyes!"

Wang Xuyan immediately added, a hint of greed flashing in her eyes.

She knew Zhao Hui had reached his absorption limit for the week. If she tried hard, she might get the Level 2 Origin Crystal.

Sure enough, after checking the attributes of the Level 2 Origin Crystal, Zhao Hui's joy diminished.

"It just has more experience points, no special attributes. Besides, I can't level up today, so it's useless to keep it. How about..."

An image of a woman appeared in Zhao Hui's mind.

If he could use this Level 2 Origin Crystal to get Xu Xiao to join, it would be great.

That woman's ability was very useful, but she had some misunderstandings about his initial harsh methods.

But it didn't matter.

Women, after all, can be easily won over with gifts!

Thinking of this, a lecherous smile appeared on Zhao Hui's face.

A successful man like him should have several beautiful women behind him, right?

Just as Zhao Hui was enjoying his vision of a bright future, Ying Zian's voice came from the corridor outside the classroom:

"Boss Zhao, Lu Li is back."

...