Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Awakening to Spiritual Energy, one feels clearheaded and refreshed.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

In the early hours before dawn, Bai E snuck back into the dormitory tent with light and stealthy steps.

His teammates' breathing was calm and gentle, deep in sleep.

Yet the same sleep seemed, to Bai E's newly sensitive senses, to carry a slightly unusual touch—

They... were exhausted.

Perhaps it was a conclusion forged from information gathered subconsciously that even his rational mind had not detected; perhaps it was from a synesthesia of collected stray thoughts.

Bai E instinctually felt that his teammates, sleeping like logs, were worn out from body to soul.

And in this state of slumber, both body and mind were relaxing and recovering swiftly under some intricate, hardly perceptible mechanism, so that the aura of life gradually grew stronger.

Those precise sensations were as vivid as distinct strings before him, as if he could reach out and touch them.

However, when Bai E actually tried to do so, he found his hand seeming to pass directly through the air; those "strings" that seemed visible were ethereal to an extreme, utterly intangible.

Bai E lowered his somewhat excited hand.

Spiritual Energy was certainly powerful, but it wasn't like one could reach the heavens in a single step.

At just 1 point of Spiritual Energy, he was still a mere apprentice at the threshold, with many unknowns in this realm yet to be explored.

After casually washing up on the public platform outside and cleaning himself, Bai E, lying in bed, found himself unable to fall asleep on either side.

His freshly awakened Spiritual Energy left him feeling energized, every injury suffered physically and mentally while practicing Spiritual Energy having been cleansed in an instant during the awakening, thoroughly healed.

He was in excellent condition.

He simply couldn't sleep.

Bai E sat up, closed his eyes, and began to practice the Breathing Skill suitable for the human constitution in the peaceful night.

New to the practice of the Breathing Skill, Bai E couldn't yet maintain it constantly like Yue Ying, nor exercise Spiritual Energy through breathing at all times.

He even had to assume specific postures during practice to help him quickly enter a meditative state and find that feeling of cultivating both spirit and flesh.

Breathe in~

Breathe out~

The plain breath flowed smoothly and lightly with each exhalation, time passing serenely like water.

...

Uncovering the small car hidden beneath clumps of grass and branches, Dai Lian took the driver's seat and inserted the key.

"Vroom~ vroom~ vroom~ clatter clatter clatter~"

After struggling to start it, the engine beneath the hood finally roared to life like a tractor.

The trembling engine transferred vibrations through the car's rigid connections, shaking the backsides of the three people sitting inside.

So much so that Kuang Xin's voice trembled as he spoke, "Are we setting off right now?"

Without a word, Dai Lian stroked the "steering wheel" in front of him, round like a ball, and looked back.

Gong Yan, who carried many bags in the car, struggled to reach out for the door, prompting Dai Lian, somewhat annoyed, to hammer Kuang Xin's shoulder, "Don't you know to help Yanzi close the door?"

"..."

Just as Kuang Xin was about to act, he heard Gong Yan's voice, "It's fine, just having the stuff brought up is enough for me."

Dai Lian's gaze swept over the large and small bags of items and he asked softly, "Do we have everything we need?"

"All here," Gong Yan patted the canvas bag beside her, which contained the food supplies they would need for the next several days.

Of course, there were several other packages, each filled with medical supplies, weapons and ammunition, and other materials they might need.

It was their first time undertaking a mission in this game world far from the city, and their in-game lives were quite precious. Plus, with their current accumulation far exceeding that of ordinary players, the three of them preferred not to be negligent and aimed to be well-prepared for every conceivable aspect.

Dai Lian nodded with satisfaction, "That's right, we trust your work. Then let's... set off!" Your next journey awaits at empire

The internal rental agreement for the car within the organization was settled by the natural day, so to avoid wasting time, they had rented the car and departed as soon as midnight passed.

Departing at midnight allowed them to have more time to act during daylight.

"You know where we're going?" Dai Lian asked, glancing sidelong at Kuang Xin, who had unfolded a map on the passenger seat.

"Of course..."

Let's not talk about other tactical minds for now, it's just map navigation, and as a seasoned game veteran, Kuang Xin is quite familiar with it.

Kuang Xin's eyes wandered over the hand-drawn map, and he quickly located both their position and the approximate roaming area of the orcs that the mission publisher had defined.

Orcs always like to run around erratically, and their traces may not be found within the designated area of activity, a fact that those who assign the missions would clarify to prevent strange "Bounty Hunters" from becoming enraged due to not finding their target.

"Here…" Kuang Xin pointed at the target location and then traced a winding line from their current position to the target with his finger, "We'll take this route."

The map's target is not only to pinpoint the target location but also to mark all potential dangers one may encounter on the way there—these are the crystallizations of the efforts of those who like to deal in shortcuts, painted in blood.

"Alright, you lead the way," Dai Lian nodded, his role as the co-driver was to assist the driver with various tasks on the road.

The not-so-bright headlights pierced through the night's thin fog, and the humid air floating in the atmosphere scattered the direction of the once straight beam of light.

Wilderness driving conditions were harsh with the ground littered with stones, and the clattering makeshift car was bumping all along, jarring the passengers to the point of physical discomfort akin to having their brains thoroughly shaken.

Fortunately, none of the three got carsick…

"After we get back, I've got to learn some repair skills to fix this car up properly," Dai Lian said as he gripped the steering wheel with both hands, trying his best at 50 kilometers per hour to keep it steady, with his bright eyes straining to distinguish passable roads, all the while gritting his teeth with determination.

[You are using the "Insight" ability to observe the complex environment...]

"It's all on you then…" The cold nighttime wind poured into the car through a window that couldn't be fully closed, the air as sharp as a knife against the face, but for Kuang Xin, it was just an unexpected pleasure.

The thought of soon encountering the orc girl he was after made Kuang Xin's heart itch with anticipation!

It's been so long! I've been in the game for such a long time!

I'm finally going to see my kin woohoo!

…

"waaaaaagh!"

"waaaaagh!"

A bloody, rusted axe blade was pulled out with a "splat" from a green chest, and the sticky green fluid it carried was carelessly flung aside by the axe-wielding arm.

Several relatively lanky machete lads looked on in horror at the formidable and brutal figure before them.

Just now, this member of the Fu Yue Clan had personally chopped off the head of their former boss.

And now...

"Crunch!"

"Crunch!"

The grating sound of chewing echoed through the quiet night, accompanied by the cool breeze pouring into everyone's ears.

The former boss's head was still alive, but firmly grasped by a large hand, which tore and chewed off pieces of flesh bite by bite.

That clear sound reverberated in the ears of every orc spectating.

Is this a fellow Fu Yue Clansman?

How are they even more brutal than our Spike Hammer Clan?

"Ptooey!" The new boss had no intention of fully consuming a head, after a few bites, he casually tossed it aside.

Several drooling dog-like creatures immediately pounced on it, and the round former boss turned into a kicked ball, rolling around on the ground amidst their scramble.

An orc's head being chopped off didn't necessarily mean death, and thankfully, such a thing felt no pain.

The half-mouthed former boss retaliated against the dogs fighting over him with bites of his own, creating a lively and noisy scene.

The new boss from the Fu Yue Clan spat out another irresistible hard bone, with his thick lips puckering and moving in a sound that seemed both simple-minded and brutal, ringing in the ears of all the orcs present.

"Me reckon... it's me who calls the shots now, right?"

"You call the shots!"

"It's all your call!"

The remaining youths of the Spike Hammer Clan shouted with fervor, their voices becoming particularly zealous amidst the chaotic ruckus.

Standing in the center of all the orcs' attention, the new boss felt an infinite power surge within him.

The vigorous force that bumped and pushed inside him was like a ball of hot air trapped within his body, unable to break free, urging his body to rapidly swell.

The already bulky green muscles became even more fearsome and terrifying as they quickly expanded, and under the moonlight, his shadow grew a more imposing silhouette on the ground...