"Pah!" Guan Tao spat fiercely at the zombie on the ground, which was now mutilated beyond recognition.
Then, he crushed the zombie's skull with a stomp of his foot.
"Challenge successful. Reward: 300 points. Would you like to continue to the next round?"
"Give up." Guan Tao looked disappointed. Even though he knew the challenge wouldn't end after just four rounds, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation. Besides, his injuries wouldn't allow him to continue fighting.
A calm amidst the madness—that was this man's combat instinct.
"Brother Tao, are you okay?" Wanping, seeing Guan Tao teleported out, quickly approached and offered him a basic healing potion.
Guan Tao didn't stand on ceremony and immediately downed the potion.
Feeling a warm current spread through his body as his wounds quickly stopped bleeding, Guan Tao sighed.
"If my injuries weren't so severe, I would have continued the challenge. Unfortunately, I can't move one of my hands."
Guan Tao looked dejected.
"You've already done great, Boss. We struggled even with the third round," Wanping consoled him.
"Yeah." Guan Tao's expression eased a bit, and he fell silent for a moment, pondering. "I've discovered something."
"What is it?" Not only Wanping and his two companions gathered closer, but even Wen Yu perked up his ears.
"I'm a goddamn genius! Did you all see that? Just now, my Flying Kick..." Guan Tao's expression changed faster than flipping through a book. His previously gloomy look vanished instantly, replaced by a face full of smug satisfaction.
Wanping and his companions looked utterly disgusted, while even Wen Yu couldn't help but chuckle.
Seeing Wen Yu chuckle, Guan Tao finally realized there was an outsider present. Once his urge to boast flared up, he couldn't hold it back. He couldn't help but give Wen Yu an awkward smile.
This guy... he's really something, Wen Yu thought, observing Guan Tao's expression—a comical mix of wanting to boast yet feeling embarrassed, making him look utterly constipated. Wen Yu's own smile grew wider.
...
"Since your challenges are over, I'll begin," Wen Yu said to the group.
These men had few possessions to begin with, and they had just used a healing potion, so Wen Yu lost any thought of robbing them.
"Go ahead, bro. You don't mind if we watch from the sidelines, do you?"
Guan Tao was very curious about Wen Yu's combat strength. The small, round orb hovering above the man's shoulder was too conspicuous. Moreover, Wen Yu appeared calm and at ease, clearly not taking the Early Stage Level 1 zombies seriously.
Guan Tao considered his own evolution to be quite fast. At least, among the professionists he had encountered in the past few days, he was the strongest. Naturally, he wanted to gauge Wen Yu's abilities.
"No problem, I don't mind." What's the harm in letting you watch? I'm just afraid the shock will be too much for you, Wen Yu thought.
He was extremely confident in his own strength. Never mind survivors; even among mutant creatures, there were very few in the entirety of Mudanjiang City who could surpass him.
He placed his hand on the challenge Stone Platform and heard the prompt asking if the challenge should begin. Wen Yu mentally affirmed, "Yes," and was instantly teleported into the arena.
"Brother Tao, this kid really puts on airs, doesn't he? You were so ferocious just now, and he didn't show any expression at all. At first, I thought he had facial paralysis," Lin Li said, curling his lip at Wen Yu, who had just teleported into the arena.
"This guy should have some skills. Did you see that little round ball on his shoulder?" Wanping glanced at the small Soul Beast.
"I was wondering what that thing was earlier," Wan'an explained. "I thought the kid knew some kind of magic. But then I noticed it moved; it seems to be alive."
"In these times, even professions have appeared, just like in a video game. Who knows, maybe this kid has some kind of treasure," Guan Tao whispered. "He must have some tricks up his sleeve. Let's observe him first. If he's not strong, then once we leave this place, he can't blame us for killing him and taking his treasures." Wealth has always tempted hearts; it's an age-old truth.
The men nodded lightly.
Wen Yu, naturally, had no idea what the men below the stage were plotting. Hearing the prompt announce the start of the challenge, he immediately readied himself for battle.
For the normal zombies in the first two rounds, Wen Yu decapitated each with a single slash. He tossed the rewards onto the ground without even a glance.
"We can't tell much from this," Lin Li mumbled.
Wanping glanced at Lin Li. "That's not entirely true. At the very least, he's experienced in combat. His strikes are swift, precise, and ruthless. His physical Attributes must be very high."
Wen Yu lightly rolled his shoulders in the arena. This was a small habit of his when fighting at full strength. He had no intention of holding back. Overwhelming opponents with sheer power was his preferred fighting style. He wouldn't toy with his opponents like a cat with a mouse; he disdained such tactics.
In the third round, an Early Stage Level 1 zombie appeared in the arena. The moment Wen Yu saw the zombie teleport in, he exerted strength in his legs. His body shot forward, and then his battle saber chopped down from above.
The zombie, still reeling from the Dizziness of teleportation, was struck directly on the forehead by Wen Yu's slash. The battle saber met no resistance as it sliced downwards. Immense power erupted within the zombie's body, splitting it cleanly in two.
The two halves of the corpse flew sideways, leaving only a cloud of blood mist that slowly dissipated into the air.
The four men below the stage didn't even have time to react. They were anticipating a spectacular action scene, but before the zombie could even let out a shriek, Wen Yu had sliced it in two with a single stroke.
They stared blankly at the figure standing in the arena.
"What... what just happened? He killed it? Just like that?" Wan'an, still reeling from the shock of the instant kill, mumbled.
Guan Tao swallowed hard. "Killed. That was way too easy."
"And judging by the speed he shot out with just now, his physical Attributes are leagues above Brother Tao's. We've never seen such a strong Human before, so it's impossible to determine what his physical Attributes are. In short, he's strong. Extremely strong." Wanping was relatively calmer, but his face was also etched with shock.
"So, um... are we still going to rob him?" Lin Li's voice became even fainter, like a mosquito's buzz, terrified of being overheard.
Guan Tao stared intently at Wen Yu in the arena, completely ignoring Lin Li's idiotic question.
"Challenge successful. Reward: one basic healing potion. Would you like to challenge the next round?"
Perhaps it was an illusion, but the men present felt as if the usually cold and steady electronic voice now carried a hint of emotional fluctuation.
"Yes."
Wen Yu didn't hesitate. He casually stuffed the healing potion into an inner pocket of his protective suit and charged directly towards the flickering white light.
The white light had just faded. Before the men below could recover from its blinding glare, they saw three heads roll onto the ground. And Wen Yu still stood on the stage, his expression as calm as ever. This time, even Lin Li, the most talkative of the group, didn't dare utter another word.
"Challenge successful. Reward: 300 points. Would you like to continue the challenge?"
"Continue."