Entering Wild Boar Forest

Shi Wei shook his head, his expression turning serious. "That Yang Yu managed to reach this level on the very day of his awakening. He must have awakened some extremely powerful talent."

"That should be it."

The Principal nodded in agreement, but then his tone shifted, worry rising between his brows. "But talent is only talent in the end."

"He is still a D-Rank Warrior. His attribute growth is far too low—that is a fatal weakness."

"Reaching Level 30 and completing the First Job Transfer before the college entrance exam will be as hard as climbing to heaven."

Shi Wei deeply agreed.

"You're right. A profession's rank is the foundation."

"High-rank professions have higher attributes and stronger skills. They may be surpassed early on by people who awaken powerful talents, but the further one progresses, the clearer the advantages of their profession become."

"Besides... talents can be awakened later on."

The Principal sighed. "Can't profession ranks be raised later as well?"

Shi Wei gave a bitter smile. "It's too difficult. That requires heaven-defying treasures or an enormous amount of resources. How could people from a small place like ours even dare to dream of it?"

"The only opportunity is during the First Job Transfer at Level 30..."

"But the success rate... is practically zero."

The two fell silent.

They both understood that a D-Rank profession was like a heavy pair of Shackles, firmly locking down Yang Yu's future.

After a long while, the Principal finally sighed. "That's why the admission standards of those top universities are so shrewd."

"They only recruit Bronze Professionals who have completed their First Job Transfer."

"That one condition alone keeps countless students with decent talents but low profession ranks firmly outside their gates."

A hover taxi sped along the smooth city highway.

The scenery outside the window gradually shifted from towering buildings to low houses and endless farmland.

The air carried less of the city's bustle and more of the wilderness's freshness.

The driver was an honest-looking middle-aged man in his forties.

He scrutinized Yang Yu several times through the rearview mirror.

Seeing that Yang Yu was not even fully equipped, he could not help speaking up.

"Young man, judging by how you're dressed, you're a Professional who just awakened, right?"

"Yeah." Yang Yu nodded.

"Going to Wild Boar Forest alone?" the driver asked again.

"Yep."

The driver sighed upon hearing that, concern appearing on his face.

"Young man, I'm not trying to meddle, but you just left Novice Village and you're already heading out of the city alone. That's too dangerous."

"Wild Boar Forest may only be a low-level Leveling Area, but it isn't exactly peaceful."

Yang Yu was intrigued. "Oh? Sir, what do you mean by that?"

Seeing that Yang Yu did not seem like one of those arrogant hotheads who refused to listen to advice, the driver opened up.

"Sigh, what else could it be? It's all about fighting over resources."

"The western side of the city is basically occupied by a War Band called Tan Lang now."

"Tan Lang War Band?" Yang Yu repeated the name.

"That's right!" The driver looked indignant.

"They're a disorganized mob made up of thugs and hooligans! I heard they used to run with gangs, and they're ruthless and vicious."

"Relying on their numbers, they set up checkpoints at the entrance to the Boar Cave Dungeon and charge fees."

"Want to go in and level up? Fine, pay protection money first! Five hundred per person!"

"Get something good inside? If they spot it, you'll have it even worse—they'll just take it by force! If you dare resist, getting your legs broken would be the least of your problems. They could kill you, dump your body in the wilderness, and no one would ever know!"

The more the driver spoke, the angrier he became.

"The officials don't do anything about it?" Yang Yu asked.

"Do something? How?" The driver gave a bitter smile.

"The wilderness outside the city is enormous, and the officials simply do not have enough manpower. Besides, those bastards are slippery. The moment they see an official patrol, they immediately pretend to be good people. Once the patrol leaves, they pop right back out."

"Besides, matters between Professionals happen outside the city. Even if someone dies, the officials generally turn a blind eye."

"After all, in this world, fists do the talking."

After hearing him out, Yang Yu had a rough understanding of the situation.

This Tan Lang War Band appeared to be a group of local tyrants entrenched outside Novice Village.

They specialized in bullying newcomers like him, people who had just set out into the world with neither backing nor strength.

He asked curiously, "What levels are they roughly?"

"They're mostly Professionals in their teens, but their boss might be Level 20!" the driver replied.

Yang Yu nodded.

That put him at ease.

As long as he did not run into that Level 20 Professional, with his current attack power, anyone else would be instantly killed on sight.

Hopefully, they won't come looking for trouble with me!

Seeing how impervious he was to advice, the driver knew there was no point saying more. He could only sigh inwardly once again.

Another young man who doesn't know his own limits.

Hopefully, he's lucky enough to survive.

The taxi soon arrived at the western checkpoint.

The towering City Wall completely separated the city from the wilderness.

Guards in standard armor stood watch at the City Gate with loaded weapons, strictly inspecting everyone entering and leaving.

The taxi could only stop there.

Yang Yu paid the fare and got out.

"Young man, take care!" The driver could not help giving him one final reminder.

"Yeah."

Yang Yu waved to him, then headed straight toward the checkpoint.

After a simple identity registration and information check, he successfully passed through the City Gate.

Rumble!

The enormous gate behind him slowly closed.

At that moment, Yang Yu felt as though the entire world had changed.

The comfort and Order of the city vanished without a trace.

In their place was an aura that was primitive, desolate, and filled with danger.

Before him stretched an endless wilderness, overgrown with weeds and littered with jagged rocks.

The forest in the distance resembled a colossal beast lying prone on the ground, quietly lurking there.

The air was thick with the scent of soil and decaying vegetation. From time to time, he could also hear the howls of unknown monsters drifting from afar.

This was the true face of the world.

A world where the strong devoured the weak, filled with the unknown and danger.

Rather than feeling afraid, Yang Yu felt the blood in his body begin to boil.

He took a deep breath of the wild-smelling air, identified the direction, and strode toward Wild Boar Forest.

The road through the wilderness was not easy to travel.

After walking for over half an hour, Yang Yu finally spotted a dense stretch of woods in the distance.

That should be the Wild Boar Forest the Homeroom Teacher had mentioned.

"Sister Leng Yuan, look, another newbie is coming over." A somewhat youthful male voice rang out, carrying a trace of barely perceptible concern.

"Mm." Another voice answered—a woman's, cool and crisp.

Yang Yu looked toward the source of the voices and saw two people standing on a hillside.

They both wore identical black combat uniforms. On their chests was a silver shield emblem engraved with the character for "dragon."

It was the emblem of the Dragon Kingdom Official Professioner Association.

The speaker was a young man in his early twenties, leaning against a boulder.

Beside him stood a tall woman.

She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six. Her short hair was neat and capable, and her features were exquisite, but her expression was as cold as ice.

Her gaze rested calmly on Yang Yu.

"He has only one piece of decent equipment, yet he's entering Wild Boar Forest alone. That's a little risky." The young man spoke again, his voice neither loud nor soft. "Sister Leng Yuan, I heard an Elite-level Wild Boar King might spawn in the forest tonight. Should we... warn him?"

The woman called Leng Yuan kept her eyes on Yang Yu, her tone calm and without ripples.

"Warn him about what?"

"Warn him that the Tan Lang War Band is active nearby?"

"Or warn him that choosing an area cautiously when one lacks strength is common sense?"

Her words were clear. She was obviously making sure Yang Yu heard them.