The Suppressed Level

"You!"

Xu Xiao choked on Lu Li's retort, her chest tightening. She stomped her foot and followed after him indignantly.

The Bug Nest's passageway was not particularly long. After they bent over and moved forward for several dozen meters, the space around them suddenly opened up.

Ma Han raised the Flame Longbow and used its firelight to inspect their surroundings.

But the moment he looked, he nearly pissed himself in fright.

The enormous underground space was packed with densely clustered insect eggs.

Each egg was the size of an adult's head, slowly writhing in the firelight.

"So many eggs... If they all hatch..."

Xu Xiao murmured, not daring to think any further.

Only now did she understand what Lu Li intended to do, and she could not help feeling somewhat ashamed.

"Lu Li, once these eggs hatch, they'll pose a huge threat to the school. We'll help you clear them out!"

"Whatever."

Lu Li did not stop them. His goal was to accumulate Soul Points anyway, and having three more people help clear the eggs would save him some stamina.

Unhatched insect eggs were disgusting, but they had no offensive ability.

After a busy stretch of work, Lu Li gained nearly 20 Soul Points.

[Ding! Detected that Player Lu Li's Soul Points have reached 50. Soul Soldier unlocked!]

As its name implied, a Soul Soldier was a soldier reconstructed from collected souls.

Each point of Soul Points was equivalent to one point of experience.

With Lu Li's current Soul Points, he could reconstruct a Lv.2 Blade Mantis.

Moreover, as long as Lu Li's Soul Points did not drop to zero, his Soul Soldiers would be immortal and indestructible, existing forever!

There was also an unexpected bonus.

Unhatched mantis eggs could actually be classified as Blade Mantises, allowing Lu Li to effortlessly complete his advancement quest.

[Detected that Player Lu Li has killed 100 Blade Mantises! Ability advancement quest completed!]

[Quest reward: Challenger's Chest ×1. Ability "Blade Arm" advanced to Platinum Rank!]

Choosing to put off claiming the reward for now, Lu Li stretched lazily in satisfaction.

Just as he was considering where to go next to kill monsters, an announcement suddenly appeared on the Data Panel.

[Congratulations to Player Zhao Hui for becoming the first Player in the world to reach Lv.1! Reward: Iron-Tier Upgrade Chest ×1!]

"Zhao Hui?"

Zhao Jin, who had been wondering how to complete the Clan Elder's task, stared at the announcement on the panel as a trace of delight surfaced between his brows.

The name was unfamiliar. He was not a direct descendant of the Zhao Family.

The coordinates shown in the announcement were at Yongcheng No.1 High School, and it was not far away.

He was an excellent target for recruitment!

"A Hao," Zhao Jin called.

A scarred bald man appeared at the doorway.

"Brother Jin, you called for me?"

"Did you see that kid named Zhao Hui? Make a trip over there and bring him back to me. Make sure he stays safe. I want him alive and in one piece."

The bald man named A Hao nodded and was about to leave.

Zhao Jin called after him again. "Hey, wait. These are special times. Bring your gear."

A Hao remained expressionless. "Is that necessary, Brother Jin? Those bugs can't threaten me."

"If I tell you to bring it, bring it. Also, take ten Origin Crystals with you. If there's an emergency, level up."

"Alright."

Inside the classroom.

"What the fuck kind of bullshit setting is this? I can only absorb ten Origin Crystals a day?!"

Zhao Hui stared at the panel before him and cursed furiously.

He had thought that with the Origin Crystals he had gathered, he could at least rise two or three levels.

Who would have thought that after absorbing ten First-Order Mana Crystals, the system would tell him he had reached today's absorption limit?

With levels being suppressed this hard, how was a genius like him supposed to rise to greatness?!

Seeing Zhao Hui suddenly fly into a Rage, Wang Xuyan, who had been serving him, rolled her eyes and said fawningly:

"Brother Zhao, don't get angry. I actually think the system's level restriction is very favorable to you."

"Oh? Why's that?" Zhao Hui pressed, enjoying the comfort spreading through his body.

"Think about it. Since everyone can only absorb a limited number of Origin Crystals each day, it means everyone is being forcibly placed on the same starting line."

"And you awakened a Diamond Rank ability, something those trash will never obtain!"

"At the same level, you'll always stay ahead."

"Not bad. Put that way, the level restriction is actually all benefit and no harm to me."

After hearing Wang Xuyan's explanation, delight appeared on Zhao Hui's face. He tossed the three unabsorbed Origin Crystals in his hand forward.

"You can absorb these three Origin Crystals. Follow me, and you won't lose out!"

Wang Xuyan hurriedly caught the Origin Crystals, the smile on her face becoming even more ingratiating.

"Thank you, Brother Zhao!"

Seeing all the Origin Crystals fall into Wang Xuyan's hands, Ying Zi'an's expression darkened slightly.

As if to make his presence known, he spoke in a flattering tone.

"Brother Zhao, you're now the first Lv.1 Player in the world. The announcement said there's a Level-up Chest. Why not open it and let us brothers broaden our horizons?"

"Hm? You want to broaden your horizons?"

Zhao Hui asked with a half-smile.

Ying Zi'an immediately realized he had said the wrong thing, cold sweat soaking his back.

"Uh, Brother Zhao, that's not what I meant..."

Before he could finish, an arc of electricity struck his shoulder. He was sent flying and crashed through a large row of desks.

"Wang Xuyan, heal him. Don't let my 'brother' die just like that."

Zhao Hui gave the order coldly.

Wang Xuyan nodded obediently. In the next moment, particles of green light fell onto Ying Zi'an.

The injuries caused by the Lightning Arrow rapidly healed, leaving not the slightest trace.

But the pain did not fade so quickly.

"Cough, cough... Brother Zhao, I was wrong..."

The recovered Ying Zi'an stammered as he crawled on his knees toward Zhao Hui.

"Hmph, brothers? If you're going to be a dog, then act like one. Don't play petty tricks!"

Zhao Hui spoke casually, yet every word radiated the arrogance of someone who did not see Ying Zi'an as human.

"Go stand guard at the door. I don't want to see that pathetic face of yours right now!"

"Yes, yes! I'm your dog, Brother Zhao! I won't dare do it again, never again..."

Ying Zi'an scrambled out of the classroom.

"Hmph. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you all broaden your horizons."

Zhao Hui seemed quite satisfied with Ying Zi'an's attitude. He displayed the Level-up Chest he had obtained before everyone.

With a soft click, the pitch-black chest opened, bursting with dazzling red light!

"Fuck, that light is blinding!"

"As expected of a chest opened by Boss Zhao Hui! It must've dropped something incredible!"

"Brother Hui is amazing!!"

Before the chest had even fully opened, waves of flattery were already rising one after another.

When the red light faded, everyone finally saw the item inside the chest.

It was a blood-red Origin Crystal.

"It's actually a Second-Order Mana Crystal!"

Tian Yuhao was the first to speak, his voice loud enough for even Ying Zi'an outside the classroom to hear clearly.

As the only Player under Zhao Hui with the [Scout] ability, he had prepared to inspect it before the chest even opened, all so he could display his usefulness at the first opportunity and flatter Zhao Hui.

"I thought Origin Crystals only came in black and gray. I never expected a red one could drop too. Brother Zhao has truly opened our eyes!"

Wang Xuyan immediately added, a barely noticeable flash of Greed passing through her eyes.

She knew Zhao Hui had already reached his absorption limit for the day. If she worked hard enough, she might be able to get her hands on that Second-Order Mana Crystal.

Sure enough, after Zhao Hui checked the Second-Order Mana Crystal's attributes, the delight on his face mostly faded.

"It only gives more experience and has no special attributes. Besides, I can't level up anymore today, so keeping it is useless. I might as well..."

A graceful figure appeared in Zhao Hui's mind.

If he could use this Second-Order Mana Crystal to get Xu Xiao to join him, that would be quite good.

That woman's ability was very useful. It was just a pity that she had some misunderstandings about his initial show of force.

But that did not matter.

Women, after all, could be easily won over with a few gifts!

At that thought, a lecherous smile appeared on Zhao Hui's face.

A successful man like him ought to have several beautiful women standing behind him, shouldn't he?

Just as Zhao Hui was indulging in fantasies of a wonderful future, Ying Zi'an's voice suddenly came from the hallway outside the classroom.

"Brother Zhao, Lu Li is back."