Chapter 4: Advancement

The next morning at seven o’clock.

Southern City Gate of East Sea City.

Xu Han was already standing at the gate, waiting.

He looked around. Quite a few people dressed as students had gathered here. They were all from different high schools in East Sea City, awakened and ready to begin their leveling journey.

“Good morning,” a clear, pleasant voice sounded beside Xu Han.

He turned to see Su Li, dressed in white sportswear, her hair tied in a ponytail, looking neat and energetic. On her back was a staff, its tip set with a milky-white gemstone the size of a fist. Even at a glance, it was obvious this staff was anything but ordinary.

“I suppose you haven’t had breakfast yet? I still have a bun, here, take it. Let’s eat together,” Su Li offered him a steaming bun.

Xu Han was momentarily stunned. It had been a long time since he felt cared for by someone.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?” Su Li eyed him curiously.

Xu Han shook his head, took the meat bun and bit into it, smiling, “I like it. Thank you.”

As he swallowed his first bite, a system prompt sounded.

“Host has consumed Tier 1 Ironback Pork for the first time, gaining 3 points of Strength and 2 points of Constitution.”

Xu Han was surprised. The bun was made from Ironback Pork!

He finished the bun, gaining another point of Strength, but no further rewards.

After more than ten minutes, Li Bin and Tian Fangchao arrived, eating breakfast as they walked, leisurely as ever. Li Bin wore light leather armor and carried a sword as tall as himself on his back.

“You’re here so early? I thought you’d be late, so I took my time,” Li Bin said, unhurried.

Su Li frowned slightly, but said nothing more. “Now that everyone’s here, let’s go level up.”

Together, they headed toward Ghostface Forest, where the Ghostface Apes dwelled.

After twenty minutes, they arrived at the forest. There was hardly a soul in sight.

The Ghostface Apes were Level 3 monsters, with elite variants at Level 5. Without a powerful combat class, ordinary people dared not venture here.

The trees in Ghostface Forest were lush and densely branched, blocking out the sunlight and casting an eerie gloom.

Su Li gripped her staff tightly, her body trembling slightly as she scanned the surroundings with caution.

Li Bin, boisterous as ever, said, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

Xu Han heard the sound of leaves rustling in the woods.

He peered into the depths of the forest. Several figures, ghostly and swift, rushed toward them.

“The Ghostface Apes are coming,” Xu Han said quietly.

Li Bin drew his sword, a sinister grin on his face. “Coming to die on their own? Perfect, my new sword can finally taste some blood!”

Squeaks, like rats, rang out.

Xu Han looked up. On a tree to the left stood a monkey. Its eyes glowed crimson, sharp fangs jutting from its mouth, its visage like a fiend.

A Ghostface Ape.

Xu Han used his Insight Eye to check its information.

[Name: Ghostface Ape]
[Race: Ape Tribe]
[Level: 3]
[Skill 1: Ghost Eye Bewilderment LV.1 (If you lock eyes with the Ghostface Ape for five seconds, you become bewitched, obeying its commands for one minute; cooldown: ten minutes)]
[Skill 2: Rend LV.1 (The Ghostface Ape tears at enemies with claws and fangs, reducing equipment durability by 10% and dealing heavy damage; cooldown: one minute)]

The Ghostface Ape’s eyes glowed brighter, glaring venomously at Xu Han and his companions.

Xu Han frowned and growled, “Don’t make eye contact with it!”

But he was a step too late.

Li Bin and Su Li quickly averted their gaze. Tian Fangchao, however, stared with bloodshot eyes, growling low as he looked at the group.

“He’s been bewitched by the Ghostface Ape. We need to restrain him first,” Xu Han said urgently.

Li Bin stepped forward and kicked Tian Fangchao in the back, sending him flying and sprawling face-first in the dirt, unable to rise for the moment.

Then, with a snarl, Li Bin charged at the Ghostface Ape, sword in hand.

His greatsword whistled through the air, aiming for the ape.

The Ghostface Ape leapt nimbly, dodging the strike, and landed a foot on Li Bin’s head.

“Beast! Get down here!” Li Bin roared, his face flushed with anger. He grabbed the ape’s ankle and yanked hard, pulling it down and slamming it onto the ground.

“Die!” He brought his sword down, aiming for the ape’s head.

With a hiss, the Ghostface Ape twisted, causing the sword to miss, but still losing an arm in the process.

The ape shrieked, its eyes now blood-red, charging at Li Bin in a frenzy.

Li Bin met it with another blow, finally killing the creature.

Xu Han watched his experience bar surge. As expected, slaying monsters above one’s level yielded abundant experience.

If he killed four more, he could level up.

As he pondered this, three more Ghostface Apes burst from the woods, lunging at Li Bin.

Claws slashed at Li Bin, tearing gaping holes in his leather armor, blood flowing freely.

Su Li, seeing this, quickly raised her staff. The gemstone atop shone with dazzling milky light.

“Heal!”

A sacred glow enveloped Li Bin, and his wounds healed instantly.

Xu Han sighed inwardly. No wonder the healing class was so sought after—such powerful healing meant far fewer casualties when facing boss monsters.

But the Ghostface Apes noticed this as well.

With a series of shrieks, one of them suddenly lunged at Su Li.

“Ah!” Su Li screamed, her face pale, and turned to flee.

Li Bin’s expression changed. “Beast!”

He tried to rush to Su Li’s aid, but the other two apes clung to him like glue, preventing him from helping.

The attacking ape was swift, closing in on Su Li in an instant.

Its claws reached out, aiming to snatch her.

Despair filled Su Li’s eyes. Her heart raced.

At that moment, a large hand seized her wrist, pulling her out of the ape’s grasp.

Looking at Xu Han standing before her, Su Li felt a sudden sense of security.

The Ghostface Ape screeched in fury, darting toward Xu Han like a specter.

“Careful!” Su Li warned loudly, her face ashen.

Xu Han remained calm.

He crouched low and delivered an uppercut to the ape’s jaw, sending it flying.

He then drew his dagger and stabbed it into the ape’s heart.

The Ghostface Ape died instantly.

“How did you…” Su Li stared at Xu Han in shock.

She hadn’t expected him to dispatch a Ghostface Ape so swiftly and decisively.

“I took martial arts as an elective,” Xu Han replied casually.

Meanwhile, Li Bin had finished off the other two apes, though he was now covered in wounds and his leather armor was in tatters.

Su Li cast another healing spell, fully restoring Li Bin’s health.

Xu Han checked his experience bar.

He had reached level one.

All his attributes had increased by ten points, balanced and even.

“Why did I faint?” Tian Fangchao asked, rubbing his head as he ambled over.

Li Bin gritted his teeth. “Are you stupid? Did you not know Ghostface Apes can bewitch people?”

Tian Fangchao shrank back, too timid to reply.

Su Li looked at the corpse of the Ghostface Ape and suddenly spoke, “Wait… did it drop equipment?”