The Strongest Talent Tree

Xi Yueyao had always been a carefree spirit. After getting the Violent Bear materials, her mood brightened completely, and her smile was exceptionally happy.

After all, the Violent Bear was a rare magical beast. Its pelt boasted excellent defensive properties, possessing not only high armor but also the rare ability to protect against subtle force. Better still, its weight and toughness were equally outstanding, making it an exceptionally rare armor material.

"Hey, Medicine Boy, should we go find your Xiaomiaozi?" Xi Yueyao said with a cheerful laugh. "He’ll be thrilled to know we took Ran Girl’s stuff."

"Let’s not rush to meet up. We need to find the Ghost Wolves first," Feng Hao said with a light chuckle.

"Oh, right. You still don’t have any materials!" Xi Yueyao said, suddenly realizing. She shot Feng Hao a slightly smug glance.

Feng Hao shook his head helplessly before turning to the other three. "Everyone, rest up and get ready to move. This is when the Ghost Wolves come out to hunt. They should be appearing in those few areas we scouted earlier."

"Don’t worry, Boss. My scouting skills are pretty professional," Li Mufeng said shyly.

Feng Hao nodded in approval. As expected of someone from a family of archers. Archers had to study at least some scouting techniques, and even though Li Mufeng had switched to firearms, his foundational training was still solid.

"Speaking of which, since you come from a family of archers, why are you using Magic Energy Firearms instead of a bow?" Feng Hao couldn’t help but ask curiously during their break.

"Boss, don’t tell me you don’t even know this?" Zhang Meng said with an exaggerated expression.

Feng Hao was taken aback. "Is it that strange?" he asked, confused.

"It’s common knowledge, okay?" Zhang Meng began to explain, a strange look on his face. "Li Mufeng has a talent for magic-based damage and a background in archery. Of course he’s going to use firearms."

Seeing that Feng Hao was still completely lost, Li Mufeng spoke up to explain. "Bows are better suited for the Power Path, while Magic Energy Guns are better for the Magic Damage Path. To be honest, before I awakened my magic foundation, I never expected to become a Gun Magic Master either."

"Oh, I get it now!" Feng Hao realized. Reality was different from a game; in the real world, it made sense that bows weren’t suitable for using Magic.

Tu Xiaoshan asked, a little curious, "Boss, how come you don’t even know common knowledge like this?"

"It’s... a long story," Feng Hao said, clicking his tongue. "Let’s drop it. We’ve rested enough. Time to move out!"

"No problem." The group all stood up, ready for action.

VMMMM!

Just as they were about to set off, a massive, translucent golden curtain of light suddenly rose up, completely sealing them in.

The expressions of the five changed drastically. They instinctively stood back-to-back, warily scanning their surroundings.

"What’s going on?" Zhang Meng’s voice trembled, his eyes filled with fear.

Li Mufeng’s expression was grim. "It’s a Gang Qi Barrier. Only a Mage who has achieved the 100-base evolution of Sinew and Bone can use it. And judging by how condensed this Gang Qi is, they have to be at least a Fifth-rank Mage!"

"A Fifth-rank Mage? Are you kidding me?" Zhang Meng’s face went pale. "Don’t tell me one of the academy teachers is trying to test us?"

"I don’t think so," Tu Xiaoshan said with a wry shake of his head.

"Then what’s happening? We haven’t provoked anyone, have we?" Zhang Meng’s face was a mask of despair, the fat on his body trembling uncontrollably.

Xi Yueyao had already ducked behind Feng Hao, her eyes peeking out timidly as she glanced around.

"Maybe it’s a senior hunting magical beasts in the Breeze Forest. But very few people would interfere with the trial assessment, right?" Li Mufeng’s brow was furrowed in confusion.

Feng Hao’s gaze swept across their surroundings. The feeling of being imprisoned by the golden curtain of light made him uneasy. He almost instinctively activated "Black Eyes." "Might I ask which senior has taken action? We are all students from Rongcheng Academy and mean no offense." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Zhang Meng and the others noticed the change in Feng Hao’s eyes. Though they were surprised, they didn’t have the presence of mind to ask about it at such a critical moment.

"You are Feng Hao?" A gaunt middle-aged man suddenly appeared within the curtain of light, his sharp, hawk-like eyes locking directly onto Feng Hao.

"Boss, he’s looking for you?" Zhang Meng said, his face full of worry.

Feng Hao’s expression darkened. "Senior, you know me?" he asked, confused.

"Then there’s no mistake. You’re coming with me!" the middle-aged man snorted coldly. In an instant, he appeared in front of Feng Hao, his hand reaching for Feng Hao’s chest.

Everyone’s faces changed in an instant; they had no idea what was going on.

Feng Hao instinctively tried to resist, but against such absolute power, it was useless. The middle-aged man was simply too fast. Before Feng Hao could even react, he was seized.

WHOOSH!

At the critical moment, a roaring, crimson fire serpent shot forward, only to be shattered by the golden curtain of light.

Yue Linglong appeared gracefully outside the barrier, her expression incredibly grim. "Senior, who are you? Why are you attacking a group of students?"

"A top student from the Student Union?" The middle-aged man sized Yue Linglong up with a hint of surprise, his expression stern. "Don’t worry, I only want this brat named Feng Hao."

"What exactly do you want, Senior?" Yue Linglong asked, gritting her teeth.

"Nothing much. Just need him to help with a small matter." The middle-aged man clearly had no intention of lingering. He hoisted Feng Hao up and prepared to leave.

"Don’t even think about it!"

Seeing that Feng Hao was about to be taken, Yue Linglong threw caution to the wind, conjuring several fire serpents with a flick of her hand and sending them hurtling toward the middle-aged man.

"Don’t waste your energy. You can’t stop me." The middle-aged man gave a contemptuous smile, casually flicking out a barrier of light that easily extinguished the fire serpents. He then quickly vanished from sight.

Although the middle-aged man was gone, no one felt the least bit relieved.

A few minutes later, Zhao Hao and the Elders arrived late. "Teacher Yue," Zhao Hao asked Yue Linglong, "we detected a powerful energy fluctuation over here just now. What happened?"

"Feng Hao was abducted," Yue Linglong said with a bitter smile.

"Who would dare make a move against the Academy?" one of the Elders behind him asked, his expression grim.

"I don’t know, but I’m certain he was incredibly powerful. At least a Seventh Rank Mage."

Zhao Hao and the others sucked in a sharp breath, their expressions wavering. "A Seventh-rank expert wouldn’t attack a student for no reason. It was probably an enemy that Feng Hao made himself."

"Dean, you have to find a way to save our captain!" Zhang Meng and the others pleaded, their eyes red.

Faced with the students’ pleas, Zhao Hao was inwardly conflicted. "The opponent is exceptionally strong," he said in a low voice. "This will require careful consideration. Besides, Feng Hao is only an auditing student. The Academy has no obligation to resolve his personal grudges."

"But he’s still a student of the Academy, no matter what!" Yue Linglong said anxiously.

"Enough. The Elders and I will decide how to handle this matter," Zhao Hao stated coldly, before leading the Elders away.

Only a few of them were left, smiling bitterly. Xi Yueyao, having just recovered from her fright, asked with a trembling voice, "Teacher Yue, you have to think of something!"

"Sigh... If the Elders won’t act, there’s not much I can do either," Yue Linglong said, shaking her head with a bitter smile.

"But..." Xi Yueyao’s eyes were red, and she was on the verge of tears from anxiety. "Forget it. I’ll go ask my dad for help."

Seeing Xi Yueyao hurry away, Li Mufeng also gritted his teeth. "I’m going home to find help too!"

"Damn it, I’ll go get my grandpa! I can’t lose the Boss I just started following!" Zhang Meng declared, equally indignant.

Watching her students rush off one by one in a panic, Yue Linglong smiled bitterly, but also felt a trace of gratification. This was the kind of camaraderie teammates should have.

It was just a shame that Feng Hao’s fate was unknown, and there was nothing she could do.

...