Brave Warrior

The fist technique 'Bone Shatter' has explosive instantaneous power.

And by using the vibration method, it can bypass the protection of armor and muscle.

Directly shattering bones from within.

Now.

Luo Yan used it against this clearly mutated python.

One strike shattered every bone in its body.

Enough to show its might!

A moment later.

Luo Yan cleared an open space and lit a fire.

Then he skinned the python and removed the meat.

Washed it clean with spring water.

Skewered it on branches and roasted it over the fire.

After a while, most of the python had gone into Luo Yan's stomach.

Full and satisfied.

Luo Yan disposed of the snake carcass and the fire.

Then he shrank into the grass and flowers near the 'Abyssal Vein'.

And so passed the night.

Whether because of yesterday's breakthrough.

Or the nourishment from the snake meat.

When he woke the next day.

Luo Yan felt that his injuries had improved significantly.

A moment later.

Using the green vines that hung down to the ground.

He left through the gap above the cave.

"Next."

"I need to head to the canyon entrance and gather."

Luo Yan looked around.

All around were either trees or strange rocks.

He had no idea where he was.

He thought for a moment.

Found a giant tree and climbed up.

It was a fir tree, astonishingly tall.

Even with his Primary Level Three physique, it took Luo Yan considerable time to reach the crown.

Looking out from the treetop.

Most of the forest lay below his line of sight.

He could clearly see.

Where he was now.

To the northeast stood a lone peak, pointing to the sky like a sharp blade.

Luo Yan silently noted it.

For when he came back later to collect the 'Essence Gathering Flower' and 'Abyssal Vein'.

He looked around some more.

And spotted the canyon entrance.

Just as Luo Yan was confirming his bearings.

Suddenly.

To his left came roars and explosions.

Luo Yan looked over.

There, trees were toppled and burning fiercely.

A giant beast crashed down heavily.

And a black mech knelt in defeat.

'Black Thunder'!

It was a machine piloted by a third-year student!

Luo Yan locked onto the direction.

He quickly slid down from the fir tree.

And sprinted all the way.

Not long after.

He heard gunshots.

Luo Yan stopped, hiding behind a clump of bushes.

Activating the Obstacle Breaking Dharma Eye to look.

Not far from the Black Thunder.

There was a patch of biological gray light.

Among it were several humanoid silhouettes.

The rest were swarms of parasites.

Those few people were relying on a dirt slope terrain.

Forming a defensive line, resisting the parasite swarm's attack.

Luo Yan circled to the rear of the 'battlefield'.

Arriving atop that dirt slope.

He climbed a large tree, hiding in its canopy.

From this angle.

Without needing the Obstacle Breaking Dharma Eye.

Luo Yan could also see that below the slope, five Academy Freshmen were attacking and defending in an orderly manner.

Resisting an assault from a swarm of Rotten Flies.

Among them.

He saw two 'familiar' people.

Li Bohang and Zeng Shan.

At this moment.

Li Bohang seemed to be acting as the commander.

Under his direction.

Several students took turns fighting.

In the blink of an eye.

They shot down nearly a hundred Rotten Flies.

When they stopped to rest.

Luo Yan finally approached the slope.

To avoid misunderstandings, he spoke up first: "Zeng Shan."

Hearing Luo Yan's voice, Zeng Shan looked up and exclaimed joyfully: "Old Luo, you're not dead!"

"Great!"

His expression didn't seem forced.

He was genuinely happy for him.

Luo Yan felt a slight warmth in his heart.

But on the surface, he only gave a slight nod.

Then slid down the slope.

Li Bohang nodded at him: "When did you get here?"

"Just now."

"You were busy, so I didn't interrupt." Luo Yan said succinctly.

A nearby student snorted: "You got here but didn't come down to help, just waiting to reap the benefits."

Luo Yan didn't argue.

He had no gun on him.

How could he help?

Fight hand-to-hand?

Engage in close combat with Rotten Flies?

And not just one or two, but a whole swarm.

He didn't want to die yet.

Li Bohang stopped him. "They're all classmates, don't be like this."

"Besides, Luo Yan doesn't have a gun."

After saying this, respect rose in Li Bohang's eyes.

No gun.

Yet he managed to survive in the Forbidden Land.

And alone at that.

This was a true warrior!

A pity.

Not everyone had the same insight as Li Bohang.

A few New Students kept their mouths shut, but their eyes still held dissatisfaction.

Luo Yan didn't bother with such trivial matters.

He looked at 'Black Thunder'.

"What happened?"

Li Bohang said, "We ran into Zeng Shan nearby yesterday."

"We were supposed to head to the rendezvous point together this morning."

"Then suddenly we encountered a Giant Beast. Thought we were dead for sure, but luckily Senior Student He Hao arrived in time."

"But..."

Li Bohang frowned, then exclaimed, "Damn, Senior Student He Hao hasn't come out yet."

"He might be injured."

He ran toward the mech.

Luo Yan silently followed.

'Black Thunder' was kneeling on the ground, with plenty of places to climb and get leverage.

Soon.

The two of them reached the mech's head.

The cockpits of mechs were all in the head, with the hatch at the back of the skull.

At this moment, Li Bohang pounded on the hatch. "Senior Student He, how are you?"

"Can you hear me?"

He called out a few times, but there was no response.

Luo Yan said in a low voice, "He might be unconscious."

He searched around the hatch.

In 'Mech General Knowledge Class', Teacher Zhao Yidan had mentioned.

There was a manual mechanism next to the cockpit that could force the hatch open.

It was designed for rescuing an unconscious pilot.

After a moment.

Luo Yan found the mechanism and slammed it down.

Psssh...

Gas vented from beside the hatch, equalizing the internal and external pressure.

Then it opened, revealing the mech cockpit to Luo Yan and Li Bohang.

They had taken 'Simulated Driving Class', so the cockpit wasn't unfamiliar to them.

They stepped inside and saw He Hao unconscious, slumped in his seat.

Neural wires were still plugged into his helmet and the back of his Combat Suit.

This was the access device for the 'Empathy System'.

It connected the Mech Master to the mech.

Luo Yan and Li Bohang quickly detached the neural wires from the interface driver, then lifted He Hao out of the mech.

Once He Hao was on the ground.

Li Bohang removed his helmet and activated the life detection system on the Combat Suit.

Finally, the system displayed.

He Hao had only temporarily lost consciousness.

There was no danger to his life.

The crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly.

A roar rang out.

From near the Giant Beast that had been struck down by 'Black Thunder'.

Another 'Lili' came charging over.

The Giant Beast's four hooves flew like the wind.

Its pounding shook the forest, making the ground tremble.

The students panicked even more.

Dealing with parasites was one thing.

But fighting a Giant Beast was far beyond them.

"Run, we need to run."

"What about Senior Student He Hao?"

"Maybe we hide him, find a teacher, and let the rescue team come back for him?"

"By then, Senior Student He would already be dead."

"Then what do you suggest?"

Watching the Giant Beast draw closer.

Li Bohang suddenly stood up: "Quick, help me take off Senior Student He's Combat Suit."

"I'll try."

"To see if I can pilot 'Black Thunder'."

Zeng Shan was startled: "Can you do it?"

"Have you piloted a mech before?"

"I haven't."

Li Bohang said in a low voice: "But there's no better option now."

Zeng Shan and a few classmates finally nodded.

They shot Li Bohang a look of admiration.

Then they frantically started stripping off He Hao's Combat Suit.

Just then.

Everyone heard the sound of the cockpit door closing.

Li Bohang froze for a moment, then looked toward 'Black Thunder'.

Sure enough, the hatch on the mech's head was already shut.

"Who got in?" Li Bohang asked, stunned.

Zeng Shan glanced around, then shouted: "Old Luo, where's Luo Yan?"

He then stared at 'Black Thunder' as if he'd seen a ghost: "Did Old Luo get into the cockpit?"

"Is he going to pilot the mech?"