Gunshot

"This was one of the three most numerous Beastmen races in Xia—and indeed in the entire East Divine Continent."

At Xia'er University's practical exhibition area, the renowned professor Teland stood before a cage made of reinforced glass with a group of students.

Inside the cage was a middle-aged man covered from head to toe in thick fur, with an exceedingly rugged appearance.

The middle-aged man seemed to have been stared at by countless visitors. He had long since lost any sense of shame, instead remaining in the cage with a numb expression, as if he had lost all will to live.

"Everyone, take a careful look at this werewolf's hands, ears, and teeth. His hands and fingernails are completely different from ours, sharp and pointed. His ears are slightly pointed as well and covered in abundant fur, while his teeth are unmistakably those of a canine... And this is still the Beastman's state of maximum restraint. Once they become enraged and accelerate the circulation of their Qi and Blood, these traits become even more pronounced. Not only does their fur grow denser and their claws sharper, their human features also begin to change toward those of a gray wolf..."

Baili Qingfeng was also listening to Professor Teland's explanation amid the crowd.

He was explaining a bizarre creature that should never have existed within Baili Qingfeng's worldview.

"Beastmen are an extremely vast group. Besides werewolves, there are Foxmen, Catmen, Tigermen, Lionmen, and dozens of other varieties. Some of the larger races have even established powerful empires. Their social structures are exceedingly complex..."

"Professor."

At that moment, a student raised his hand and asked, "The difference between this Beastman and us humans is really too small. If he put on gloves, wore a hat, and refrained from speaking unless necessary, we wouldn't be able to tell whether he was a Beastman or a human. Apart from these inconspicuous physical traits, is there any other way to distinguish Beastmen from humans?"

"This is a question all of humanity has been studying, but unfortunately, there isn't one."

Professor Teland sighed. "If Beastmen could be easily identified, they would not have become one of the three great hidden threats to human society. These creatures pose a greater danger to us than dragon beasts, giants, and Balrogs because they hide within human society, making them difficult for us to find. Dragon beasts, giants, and Balrogs, on the other hand, may be incredibly powerful—every one of them can cause immense destruction when it leaves the forests—but their targets are huge, making it easy for the military to lock onto them and kill them with artillery fire."

"We could organize a physical examination and have everyone run three thousand meters. Once they were panting and their blood circulation accelerated, the Beastmen's characteristics would naturally be impossible to conceal."

A student offered a suggestion.

"It wouldn't work. Three thousand meters requires an enormous expenditure of energy for humans, but it's nothing to Beastmen. Every Beastman possesses tremendous physical strength. Moreover... the stronger the Beastman, the greater their self-control. Some Beastmen don't display even the slightest increase in Beastman characteristics when enraged."

Professor Teland spoke with regret.

At the same time, he led everyone to a second reinforced-glass cage.

"Next, let's discuss the second numerous humanoid race in the East Divine Continent: Cavemen. Compared to Beastmen, Cavemen pose a somewhat smaller threat to humanity, but that doesn't mean they are harmless. Cavemen possess an innate talent and ability for prospecting and excavation. Long ago, someone conducted an experiment: equipped with proper tools, six Cavemen could excavate tunnels at a speed equivalent to that of a small tunnel-boring machine!"

"Hiss!"

The students could not help drawing in a sharp breath when they heard this.

Six Cavemen digging with the efficiency of a small tunnel-boring machine—what speed was that...

Cavemen were greedy by nature. For gold and special minerals, they often fought without fear of death. Furthermore, they possessed an overwhelming advantage over humans: they could hide underground. By collapsing the ground, they could cause large-scale sinkholes. This was especially dangerous in places with underground rivers or geological fault lines, where they could pose a severe threat to humanity. Sometimes, they could even trigger earthquakes artificially. Xia occasionally organized teams to venture underground and hunt Cavemen, but unfortunately... the results were meager."

Baili Qingfeng looked at the three Cavemen inside the cage.

The three Cavemen were all around one and a half meters tall, but without exception, they were extremely sturdy. Perhaps because they had spent years digging through soil, their arms were immensely thick—so thick that they looked somewhat disproportionate. The muscles bulging from them perfectly embodied the meaning of strength.

Baili Qingfeng studied the Cavemen for a few moments before following Professor Teland to another location, where a massive artificial aquarium stood.

And inside this aquarium...

There was a person.

A person with fish gills where his ears should have been and faint scales covering parts of his skin.

"These are Mermen, a humanoid race capable of surviving underwater. They are also one of the chief culprits responsible for strictly isolating our human world from close contact with the other nine continents. They are found not only throughout the seas, but also in some rivers. Compared to humans, the waters are their home turf... Fortunately, human ships are now primarily built with steel structures, so the threat posed by Mermen has been reduced somewhat. Even so, incidents still occur from time to time in which Mermen climb aboard human vessels under cover of night and attack the people aboard."

"Professor, I heard that every female Merman is incredibly beautiful. Are they the original inspiration for mermaids? Is that true?"

At that moment, a student asked curiously.

"Female Mermen? They may conform to human standards of beauty, but if you don't want to be eaten by them until not even your bones remain, you'd best stay far away from this dangerous humanoid race."

Teland shrugged. "The planet we live on isn't safe. Besides these three great humanoid races, there are many more minor humanoid races. Our Department of Humanoid Sociology bears the responsibility of studying their social structures, civilizations, and concepts of good and evil. In many situations, the role we can play is even greater than that of a war."

"I know. The most famous example is the Fan Deng Battle thirty years ago. The West Creek Kingdom built an impregnable fortress at Fan Deng City, making the Fan Deng front completely impenetrable. No one expected the Steel Empire to subjugate a Caveman tribe, which excavated its way to Fan Deng City in an extremely short period of time. Using explosives, they caused a massive mountain collapse in one stroke. Fan Deng City was destroyed, and sixty thousand soldiers of the West Creek Kingdom perished in that great battle. That war also established the Steel Empire's position as the hegemon of the Red Departure Continent."

One of the students spoke.

"Your history is quite good."

Teland gave his approval. "Next, I'll explain the social structure of the Cavemen..."

That afternoon, Baili Qingfeng walked toward his residence.

Today's lesson had broadened his horizons, while also making him realize that this world and the other world...

Really were different.

And since he was now in this world, then...

He naturally had to accept this world's worldview.

"There's still so much I need to learn. After I go back and practice the Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms a hundred times, I'll read some books... My physical and intellectual development must advance together."

Baili Qingfeng made up his mind and walked toward his residence. Before long, he arrived at the Small Woods he had to pass through.

Just as he stepped into the Small Woods, his Manifestation-stage spirit and Nurturing Spirit-stage cultivation allowed him to keenly sense danger. In the next moment, he tilted his head aside...

"Bang!"

A gunshot!

A bullet trailing a blazing vortex of air skimmed past his left cheek and shot into a tree two meters to his side...

Wood chips flew everywhere.