Chapter 5: The Suppressed Hierarchy

“You!”

Xu Xiao was momentarily speechless by Lu Li’s retort, feeling a tightness in her chest. She stomped her foot in frustration and angrily followed him.

The passage through the insect hive was not very long. After bending down and moving forward for several dozen meters, the surroundings suddenly opened up.

Ma Han raised his flaming longbow, using the firelight to survey the area.

But what he saw nearly scared the urine out of him.

The vast underground chamber was filled with countless insect eggs.

Each egg was about the size of a grown man’s head, slowly writhing under the flickering firelight.

“So many eggs… if they all hatch…”

Xu Xiao murmured, unwilling to think further.

At that moment, she finally understood what Lu Li intended to do and felt a pang of guilt.

“Lu Li, if those eggs hatch, they’ll pose a huge threat to the school. Let us help you clear them out!”

“Whatever,” Lu Li replied without stopping them. His goal was to increase his soul points. Having three people help would save energy.

The unhatched eggs, while disgusting, posed no immediate threat.

After some effort, Lu Li gained nearly 20 soul points.

[Notification: Player Lu Li’s soul points have reached 50. Soul Soldier unlocked!]

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

Every 1 soul point equals 1 experience point.

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

Moreover, as long as Lu Li’s soul points never drop to zero, the Soul Soldier would be immortal and eternal!

There was also an unexpected bonus.

Unhatched mantis eggs were classified as Blade-arm Mantises, allowing Lu Li to easily complete his advancement task.

[Notification: Player Lu Li has killed 100 Blade-arm Mantises! Ability advancement task completed!]

[Task reward: Challenger’s Chest ×1, ability ‘Blade-arm’ upgraded to Platinum grade!]

Lu Li chose to set aside the reward for the time being and stretched contentedly.

Just as he was considering where to hunt next, an announcement suddenly appeared on his data panel.

[Congratulations to player Zhao Hui for becoming the world’s first player to reach Level 1. Reward: Black Iron-grade upgrade chest ×1!]

...

“Zhao Hui?”

Zhao Jin, unsure how to complete his clan elder’s task, stared at the announcement on the panel, a hint of delight crossing his brows.

The name was unfamiliar, not a direct member of the Zhao family.

The announcement’s location was at the First High School of Yongcheng, quite nearby.

A very promising recruit!

“Ahao,” Zhao Jin called out.

A scar-faced bald man appeared at the door.

“Brother Jin, you called?”

“Did you see that kid named Zhao Hui? Go bring him back for me. Make sure he’s safe and sound—I want him alive and intact.”

...

The bald man named Ahao nodded and was about to leave.

Zhao Jin called him back.

“Wait, it’s a special period now. Take that thing with you.”

Ahao showed no expression. “Is that really necessary, Brother Jin? Those bugs can’t threaten me.”

“You take it anyway. Also bring ten spirit crystals. If things get dire, use them to level up.”

“Got it.”

...

Inside the classroom.

“Damn it, what kind of egg rule is this? Only ten spirit crystals absorbed per day?!”

Zhao Hui glared fiercely at the panel before him, cursing wildly.

He had hoped to level up two or three stages with the spirit crystals he had gathered.

But after absorbing ten first-tier crystals, the system informed him that he’d reached his absorption limit for the day.

With his level suppressed so harshly, how could this genius ever rise to greatness?!

Seeing Zhao Hui suddenly explode in anger, Wang Xuyan, who was serving him, quickly shifted her eyes and flatteringly said:

“Brother Zhao, don’t get mad. I actually think the system limiting levels is quite kind to you.”

“Oh? Why’s that?” Zhao Hui asked, feeling comforted.

“Think about it. Since everyone can only absorb a limited number of spirit crystals daily, it basically forces everyone to start from the same line.”

“And you’ve awakened a diamond-grade ability, something those losers will never have!”

“At the same level, you’ll always stay ahead.”

“Not bad. When you put it that way, the level cap actually benefits me.”

After Wang Xuyan’s explanation, Zhao Hui’s face brightened. He tossed the remaining spirit crystals forward.

“You can absorb these three. Stick with me, and you won’t lose out!”

Wang Xuyan hurriedly caught the crystals, her smile growing even more ingratiating.

“Thank you, Brother Zhao!”

Nearby, Ying Zi’an watched all the crystals fall into Wang Xuyan’s hands, his expression darkening.

To assert his presence, he spoke with a tone of flattery:

“Brother Zhao, you’re the world’s first Level 1 player now. The announcement said there’s an upgrade chest. Why don’t we open it and let the brothers have a look?”

“Hm? You want to have a look?” Zhao Hui smiled faintly.

Ying Zi’an immediately realized he’d misspoken, cold sweat soaking his back.

“Uh, Brother Zhao, I didn’t mean—”

Before he could finish, a bolt of electricity struck his shoulder, sending him flying backward and overturning a row of desks.

“Wang Xuyan, heal him. Don’t let my ‘brother’ die on me.”

Zhao Hui ordered coldly.

Wang Xuyan obediently nodded. The next moment, green light particles fell upon Ying Zi’an.

The wounds from the lightning bolt quickly healed without a trace.

But the pain lingered.

“Cough… cough… Brother Zhao, I was wrong…”

...

Recovered, Ying Zi’an stammered as he crawled on his knees toward Zhao Hui.

“Hmph, ‘brother’? If you want to be a dog, have the conscience of a dog. Don’t try to be clever!”

Zhao Hui spoke coldly, his arrogance radiating from within, clearly not considering Ying Zi’an as a person.

“Guard the door. I don’t want to see your miserable face now!”

“Yes, yes! I’m your dog, Brother Zhao! I won’t dare again, never again…”

Ying Zi’an scrambled out of the classroom.

“Hmph, I’m in a good mood today. Let you all have a look.”

Zhao Hui seemed satisfied with Ying Zi’an’s attitude and displayed the upgrade chest to everyone.

With a click, the jet-black chest opened, releasing dazzling red light!

“Wow, such a blinding glow!”

“Truly worthy of Brother Zhao’s chest. It must be filled with treasures!”

“Brother Hui is amazing!!”

Before the chest fully opened, waves of praise drowned out everything else.

When the red light faded, everyone saw the item inside.

A blood-red spirit crystal.

“A second-tier spirit crystal!”

Tian Yuhao spoke first, loudly enough for Ying Zi’an outside the classroom to hear clearly.

As the only player under Zhao Hui with the [Scout] ability, he had prepared to reveal his usefulness immediately and flatter Zhao Hui.

“I thought spirit crystals were only black or gray, never expected a red one. Brother Zhao really opened our eyes!”

Wang Xuyan quickly added, a subtle greed flickering in her eyes.

She knew Zhao Hui had reached his absorption limit for the week. If she worked hard, she might be able to get that second-tier crystal.

Sure enough, after Zhao Hui checked the crystal’s attributes, his expression dimmed considerably.

“It only grants more experience, no special attributes. Besides, I can’t level up today, so keeping it is useless. Better to…”

A vision appeared in Zhao Hui’s mind.

If he could use this second-tier crystal to recruit Xu Xiao, it would be worthwhile.

That woman’s ability was very useful—though she had misunderstood his initial harsh methods.

But that was fine.

Women could be won over with gifts; he’d easily get her on his side!

Thinking this, a lecherous smile spread across Zhao Hui’s face.

A successful man like him always had several beautiful women behind him, didn’t he?

Just as Zhao Hui indulged in his pleasant daydream, a voice came from the corridor outside the classroom.

“Brother Zhao, Lu Li is back.”

...