"Look quickly! Those people… they seem to be from the Hestia Familia!"
"Have they already returned from the Great Tree Sea?"
"Is that man the captain of the Hestia Familia?"
"Tsk, he doesn't look that strong, yet he's strutting around with so many beauties!"
"They must be coming to the 18th floor for the first time, right?"
Soon, a group of adventurers gathered around.
Those strong enough to reach this floor were at least LV2.
Some were curious onlookers, some showed hostility, some wanted to spar, and some even seemed to want to flirt with Ilena and the others.
Ying Ping swept his gaze over them with cold eyes, not wanting to bother with these adventurers at all.
Just as he was about to break through the crowd and leave, he suddenly heard a familiar voice:
"Oh, if it isn't the Hestia Familia?"
"Long time no see."
Ying Ping turned his head and saw that it was Finn, the captain of the Loki Familia, accompanied by Ais, Riveria, and others.
"Captain Finn, Miss Ais, and Miss Riveria, hello."
Ying Ping's eyes lit up, and he greeted them politely: "I heard that your Loki Familia was preparing for an expedition. Has it already begun?"
Finn nodded: "Not yet. We're just planning to set up a base on this safe floor for a while and establish a stronghold. Once supplies arrive, we'll slowly push further down."
He looked at the team behind Ying Ping, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "I didn't expect you, who arrived later, to catch up to our progress so quickly."
Ais's golden eyes fixated on Ying Ping: "I feel… you've become stronger since we last met."
Ying Ping smiled faintly: "Is that so? I feel Miss Ais has also become stronger."
Just as Ying Ping and Finn were enjoying their conversation, a harsh voice suddenly interrupted:
"Heh, what a thick-skinned, stinky rookie!"
"You just got lucky, relying on a divine artifact to deal with the monsters in the Great Tree Sea, and now you dare to spout nonsense in front of Ais?"
Bete Loga walked over with his hands in his pockets, his silver-gray wolf ears perked up high, his eyes full of disdain.
Upon hearing this, Eileena and the others immediately showed displeasure.
"It's you again."
Kokonoe's small face stiffened.
She hadn't expected to encounter this werewolf.
"Bete!"
Riveria frowned and reprimanded him: "Watch your words. Apologize to Mr. Ying Ping immediately."
"I'll never apologize to a weakling."
Bete glared fiercely at Ying Ping.
Looking at the opponent's ferocious and bloodthirsty expression, Ying Ping suddenly laughed.
He sized up the LV5 werewolf in front of him, feeling no ripple in his heart—
To be honest, the current Bete was no longer worthy of his attention.
LV5?
Ying Ping had just slain an LV20 Floor Boss.
To be even more blunt, one of his stronger shadow soldiers could wipe out the entire Loki Familia.
"Oh? It seems Lord Bete is questioning my strength?"
Ying Ping asked with interest.
Bete scoffed: "Do I even need to question you? I've seen plenty of arrogant guys like you."
He raised a finger and wagged it in front of Ying Ping: "Do you know? Even Ais took a year to go from LV1 to LV2, and that's already considered the fastest speed in Orario."
"And you?"
Bete stepped closer, revealing his sharp teeth: "You've only just become an adventurer. You haven't even broken through to LV2, have you?"
Before he finished speaking, Ying Ping suddenly struck like lightning!
"Crack!"
With a crisp sound, Bete didn't even see the movement before Ying Ping grabbed his neck and slammed him to the ground.
The back of his head hit the ground hard, and his vision went black for a moment.
"Ugh…!"
Bete was horrified to find that he couldn't break free at all.
That hand was like an iron clamp, firmly locking his throat, making it difficult for him to even breathe.
Even more terrifying, a bone-chilling killing intent instantly enveloped him.
Bete felt his limbs stiffen, and his strength seemed to have been drained by half!
This was Ying Ping's Killing Intent Lock skill at work.
"Ying, Mr. Ying Ping?!"
Finn's eyes widened in shock.
Ais and Riveria also showed expressions of disbelief.
The LV5 Bete Loga, instantly subdued by Ying Ping, a rookie adventurer without even a title?!
The surrounding adventurers were in an uproar, some even gasping aloud.
Ying Ping looked at Bete with cold eyes: "Now, do you still think I'm only LV2?"
Bete's expression was one of extreme ugliness and terror, and he felt the hand on his neck tightening further.
Considering the reputations of Ais and Riveria, Ying Ping released his grip at an opportune moment.
Bete immediately gasped for air like a drowning man, scrambling to his feet in a disheveled state.
He looked at Ying Ping in horror, this time not daring to utter a single word, and scurried away with his tail between his legs.
Ying Ping didn't care for Bete's apology.
The onlookers among the adventurers were discussing animatedly.
The news of Ying Ping defeating Bete would surely spread throughout Orario soon.
Finn took a deep breath and asked solemnly: "Mr. Ying Ping, you were able to instantly suppress an LV5 Bete… your strength must be beyond LV5, right? Are you LV6 like me and Riveria?"
Ying Ping smiled: "Sorry, that's not convenient to disclose for now."
Riveria's eyes flickered. She scrutinized Ying Ping and murmured to herself: "Even I couldn't see his movements clearly just now. Could he be LV7?"
During the dungeon riot a while ago, their Loki Familia had fought alongside Ottar, an LV7 from the Freya Familia, and knew that level of power.
But Ying Ping still gave her an unfathomable feeling.
Just then, Ais suddenly stepped forward.
Her golden eyes gleamed with intense light, and she asked directly: "Can you tell me how you became so strong?"
Ying Ping looked at the Sword Princess's serious little expression and nodded with a smile: "Of course."
"Really? That's great."
Ais's small face showed a hint of surprise, then immediately brightened with joy.
She turned to Riveria and Finn: "I'd like to train with Mr. Ying Ping alone."
Finn and Riveria exchanged glances.
Considering the strength Ying Ping had displayed, and the future relationship between their two familias, they quickly nodded in agreement.
"Go ahead, but don't be gone too long."
Riveria reminded her: "We still need to prepare for the expedition."
Ais nodded obediently, then looked at Ying Ping expectantly.
After giving a few instructions to his girls, Ying Ping walked with Ais towards the lakeside.
The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through the crystal dome, bathing the lakeside in a golden hue.
Ying Ping gazed at the girl in front of him, renowned as the Sword Princess, and couldn't help but fall into a slight daze.
Ais Wallenstein possessed a beauty that was in no way inferior to a goddess—
Her long golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her delicate features were as perfect as a doll's.
Especially those clear golden eyes, so pure they contained not a trace of impurity.
At this moment, she was tilting her head, waiting for Ying Ping to speak with a charmingly innocent expression, which made his heart flutter.
"Miss Ais."
Ying Ping collected his thoughts, pointed to the sword at her waist, "Right here, draw your sword and attack me."
"Aren't you going to use a weapon?"
Ais blinked.
"No, my strength is greater than yours, so you don't need to hold back against me."
Ying Ping smiled, "Just attack me with all your might. I want to know your limits."
"I understand."
Ais nodded solemnly, whispering: "Tempest!"
In an instant, green gales swirled around her.
The Desperate Sword was drawn, bringing a fierce sword wind that slashed towards Ying Ping!
Initially, Ais's attacks still had an element of probing.
But when she saw that Ying Ping didn't even draw his sword, didn't dodge, and easily parried her blade with just one hand, Ais couldn't help but be greatly surprised.
A sword striking his hand had no effect; just how strong was his defense?
Ais took a deep breath, her eyes sharpening.
Her attacks became faster and faster, and her sword techniques grew increasingly fierce.
Twenty minutes later—
"Hoo… hoo…"
The continuous high-intensity combat left Ais covered in sweat, her golden hair clinging messily to her cheeks.
Several red marks appeared on her fair skin—
Those were the embarrassing imprints of Ying Ping's slaps.
Even after being thoroughly taken advantage of, she stubbornly gripped her longsword and charged again.
"Slap!"
Ying Ping easily restrained her wrist, then turned and pressed her to the ground.
"Miss Ais…"
Ying Ping sniffed the faint fragrance from Ais's hair, leaned close to her ear, and chuckled, "Honestly, your combat awareness and technique are actually better than mine."
"Through you, I've actually learned quite a lot."
He released his hold and said seriously: "The only difference between you and me is actually just level and ability scores. In terms of combat experience, I might even be inferior to you."
This statement was indeed true.
Leaving aside combat power, Ying Ping had risen in less than a month.
He had always fought relying on skills and instinct, never systematically learned force application techniques or moves, nor had he ever hired a master.
To put it bluntly, he was an amateur.
However, through sparring with Ais, he had learned many exquisite sword techniques…