Chapter 7: The Freshmen Squad of Longguo University

Xu Han concealed his presence, silently drawing closer as he activated the Eye of Appraisal.

[Name: Ghost-faced Ape King (Leader-class)]
[Race: Ape Tribe]
[Level: ???]
[Skill 1: ???]
[Skill 2: ???]
[Skill 3: ???]

“As expected, a leader-class beast,” Xu Han muttered.

The hierarchy of these beasts was divided into ordinary, elite, and leader. The classification for leaders was the same as for equipment grades. This was just a basic-level leader, yet even so, its combat strength far surpassed that of ordinary beasts.

His gaze settled on the group below.

They appeared quite young—likely university students, perhaps from a vocational university for professionals. Xu Han crouched on a tree branch and observed quietly.

Below, the group was locked in a fierce struggle with the Ghost-faced Ape King. A young man wielding a longsword and dressed in a cloth robe, the very image of a swordsman, circled around the monstrous ape. Seizing the right moment, he thrust his sword forward, leaving a fresh wound on the beast’s body.

With a furious roar, the Ghost-faced Ape King fixed its crimson eyes on the swordsman. Its massive fist, the size of a boulder, swung down. Sensing danger, the swordsman dodged quickly.

Boom! The fist slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater.

The muscular man with the shield, having recovered, stepped in once more, smashing his shield against the beast. The blow barely fazed the Ghost-faced Ape King, who retaliated with a wrathful swipe.

The burly man braced himself, gripping his shield, grounding himself as if he were rooted to the earth.

Thud! The ape’s fist hammered the shield like a gong, producing a muffled echo.

Amazingly, the burly man withstood the blow, though blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and his face was etched with pain. A green light shimmered over him, and only then did his expression ease.

He spoke: “Mimi, I can take it. Save your mana.”

The girl named Mimi nodded in agreement.

The swordsman, eyes on the Ghost-faced Ape King, said, “Everyone, we’ve just entered Dragon Nation University. If we can take down this leader-class Ghost-faced Ape, we’ll earn a ton of points when we get back. Hang in there!”

Xu Han raised an eyebrow. “Students from Dragon Nation University? Why would they be here? Aren’t they supposed to be in the capital?”

As he pondered, the swordsman barked further orders.

“Zhu Junjie, use magic! Jiang Yuchen and I will draw its attention from the sides. Its defenses are too strong for physical attacks—we’re counting on you.”

At the rear, a young man in a fiery red mage’s robe nodded impatiently. “I know, you don’t have to tell me!”

He raised his staff; a fireball the size of a basketball formed instantly and howled toward the Ghost-faced Ape King.

Boom!

The fireball struck its target, exploding in a blaze that singed the beast’s flesh black.

The Ghost-faced Ape King bellowed in pain—a sound that only made it more savage. Its gaze locked onto Zhu Junjie, murderous intent blazing.

“Not good! Zhu Junjie’s magic did too much damage—it’s shifting its aggro!” Tang Mimi clutched her staff, fear in her voice.

At that instant, a shadow appeared soundlessly beside the Ghost-faced Ape King. A sharp dagger plunged into one of the beast’s eyes. Driven mad by agony, the ape lashed out wildly at its assailant, but the attacker had already slipped away.

Xu Han looked over.

It was a girl in a tight combat suit, her short, deep blue hair fluttering in the wind, her figure striking and athletic, especially those long, shapely legs. A mask concealed her face.

Confronted with the now-enraged Ghost-faced Ape King, the group retreated in haste. If anyone were to be caught now, death would be certain.

The Ghost-faced Ape King reared its head and let out an earth-shaking roar. Its solitary eye locked onto Tang Mimi. Intelligent for a beast, leader-class monsters always had some tactical sense. It knew it needed to take out the healer first.

It charged at Tang Mimi, who went pale with terror and stumbled backward.

The muscular Wu Peijun stood firm, shield raised to block the beast’s path. He shouted, “It’s almost done for! Hit it with everything we’ve got—finish it now!”

The others, seizing the moment, unleashed their skills: Explosive Fireball, Sword Qi Slash, Shadow Strike!

The three attacks landed, carving more wounds into the Ghost-faced Ape King.

With another furious roar, the ape king called for aid. The surrounding forest rustled, and within seconds, several massive ghost-faced apes burst from the trees, leaping toward the embattled students.

Xu Han scanned them with his Eye of Appraisal—every one was elite-class.

He frowned. “So it can summon reinforcements?”

The elite apes lunged at the group below.

Li Yu’s face darkened. “Damn, it can call its minions!”

He spun to check on Tang Mimi and Zhu Junjie, who were now surrounded by at least four elite apes each.

Zhu Junjie gripped his staff, fending the beasts off with wild swings. “Get away, you monsters!”

Tang Mimi, trembling, waved her staff in panic, but the apes circled, looking for an opening. In moments, both she and Zhu Junjie were left bloody and their robes torn to shreds.

Li Yu gritted his teeth. “Jiang Yuchen, forget the king for now—save them!”

Jiang Yuchen nodded, then flashed forward, blades drawn to cut down the apes attacking Tang Mimi.

But as Li Yu tried to help, more elite apes closed in, trapping him. He clenched his jaw, eyes flashing coldly. “You beasts court death!”

He swept his fingers along his sword, gathering a deadly aura.

“Sword Sever!”

With a low roar, he brought his blade down. Sword energy sliced through the air—two apes, caught off guard, were cleaved clean in two; the others lost limbs or were gravely wounded.

Before he could celebrate, a massive fist crashed into him.

Bang! Like a broken kite, Li Yu was sent flying, crashing to the ground and coughing up blood.

“Li Yu!” Wu Peijun’s face twisted in shock. He hefted his shield, ready to aid his friend.

The Ghost-faced Ape King’s single, blood-red eye fixed on him, and it swung its fist once more.

Boom! Another man-shaped crater appeared in the earth.

The beast’s gaze shifted to Tang Mimi and her companions.

A cold light flashed in Jiang Yuchen’s eyes. “Go—now!”

She became a blur, hurtling straight at the Ghost-faced Ape King.

Murder sparked in the ape’s gaze—it remembered this woman!

A monstrous fist thundered down. Jiang Yuchen focused on the incoming blow, sidestepping to evade, but the fist suddenly opened into a massive palm, slamming her with brutal force.

She was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into a tree trunk, blood streaming down her body.

“Yuchen…!” Tang Mimi cried out in despair.

Zhu Junjie gritted his teeth. “Run! Go alert the city guards!”

He raised his staff high, roaring, “Damn you, beast! If I die, you’re coming with me!”

“Explosive Fireball!”

The searing fireball began to form.

But the surrounding apes pounced, dragging Zhu Junjie to the ground, claws raining down in a frenzy.

Agonized screams echoed through the forest.

The Ghost-faced Ape King’s single eye fixed on Tang Mimi as it lumbered closer, a living mountain.

Tang Mimi trembled, eyes full of hopelessness.

The ape king raised its fist and brought it down with all its might.

Her eyes widened as the fist grew larger before her, her mind going blank.

In the next instant, a shadow dropped from the sky.

A fist met the Ghost-faced Ape King’s attack head-on.