"Is this the work of Xu Gu?"
"How is this possible!"
Everyone found it hard to believe, their eyes widened in shock and some doubted their own ears, finding it difficult to accept this outcome.
Looking at the mess before them, with steel, gears, chains, circuits, and other parts everywhere, they were all stunned.
This wasn't a battle at all!
It was a slaughter!
And now, Lin Changfeng was telling them that the one who slaughtered these Steel Hyenas wasn't someone else, but the very same Xu Gu they had just looked down upon for his complacency and arrogance?
Everyone felt as if they had been struck by lightning.
"These are Level 5 Steel Hyenas! And look at the scale of this, there must be a hundred of them! How could it be Xu Gu? Even the school's teaching staff would find this difficult to achieve!"
Zhang Chao's Crystal Energy heart nearly stopped, he took a deep breath and exclaimed in disbelief.
"School's teaching staff? Aren't you overestimating them a bit too much? It's hard enough to kill one Steel Hyena, let alone a hundred, which would be a nightmare!
"It must be a mistake! Teacher Lin, please take another careful look."
Wang Lishuo swallowed hard, shocked.
It wasn't just the two of them, Lin Liu, Tian Mei, and Sun Mo all wore horrified expressions, staring intently at Lin Changfeng, seeking confirmation of the truth.
On their path to combat, they had encountered everything from Level 1 Steel Mice to Level 4 Steel Rats, and knew very well how formidable these Steel Beasts were!
Even for the five of them to team up and try to take down a Level 5 Steel Hyena, it would certainly be a tough battle!
To say nothing of the fact that there were a hundred of them here!
They were mentally prepared to brave Evil Dog Ridge, having suppressed the fear in their hearts.
They had even planned to have Teacher Lin Changfeng oversee and only lure out one at a time!
They could hardly imagine how strong someone had to be to slaughter a hundred Steel Hyenas in Evil Dog Ridge!
How could it be Xu Gu!
Hadn't he just undergone the Awakening?
"Indeed, it was Xu Gu."
Lin Changfeng's inner turmoil was no less fierce as he murmured:
"His talent is very high, and he has already gained control of that huge body; he can freely wield his strength without causing too much collateral damage.
"Still, he is rather unaccustomed; during combat, he can't completely control his power and leaves many traces behind.
"Don't you see? Who else could leave such massive and deep footprints but a newbie juggernaut Mechanical Man? It has to be Xu Gu!
"There aren't many of these marks either, which suggests that he quickly mastered the technique and could freely control his power in combat.
"Such talent is staggering!"
Lin Changfeng's lips were dry with the depth of his emotions.
He had previously been angered by Xu Gu's rejection and had belittled him internally.
Believing Xu Gu lacked ambition, was arrogant, lacked willpower, was not steadfast in heart, and was indulgent in sensual pleasures, etc.
His life was considered over.
But it turns out, he had wronged Xu Gu.
Rejecting him was not due to lack of ambition - on the contrary, he was too ambitious!
Plans for Level 3 to 5? Those were beneath his notice!
Just awakened, and yet slaughtering a group of Level 5 Steel Hyenas – was this the genius Xu Gu who always secured the top spot in simulations? That's just monstrous!
"This... how is this possible."
Zhang Chao looked at the scene before him, desperately shaking his Mechanical Man head, saying:
"Some footprints don't prove anything. He, just like us, has just awakened; he can't be that strong!"
He had just dreamt of surpassing Xu Gu, winning over Lin Liu, entering the Imperial Capital Academy, and reaching the pinnacle of life.
But the next moment, reality shattered his dream.
If these Steel Hyenas were indeed killed by Xu Gu, then he was nothing compared to Xu Gu!
Not just him, but even the A-level Wang Lishuo, who always looked down upon Xu Gu, lost all hope, his face the picture of dejection.
A gleam of triumph flickered in Lin Liu's eyes as she said: "The world is like this after Awakening; one step ahead means being steps ahead.
"As an S-rank, he must belong to a major power, with investors behind him, sending a dozen Level 30 bodyguards to escort and protect him. Plus, he'll likely have top-notch equipment assembled for him."
"If he is cautious, it wouldn't be a problem for him to kill a few Level 5 Steel Beasts."
Lin Changfeng nodded in agreement, saying, "Being an S-level, although he needs more Crystal Energy to advance, he has a higher energy efficiency, which means he gains more Experience when he kills those creatures.
"By this time, he should have reached Level 2, right? He seems to be heading deeper. I'm afraid it won't be long before he reaches Level 3! Heck, he might even set a record!
"Reaching Level 4 in one day! Good heavens! If he's not a genius then what is?"
The more he talked, the more excited Lin Changfeng became, his heart racing with eager anticipation.
This is a student from our school!
"This..."
After hearing Lin Changfeng's words, Wang Lishuo and Zhang Chao both fell silent, deeply struck.
Even doubting their own lives.
"He's not only a genius, but he's also so hardworking and even has the support of a major force. How can I ever compete with him!"
Zhang Chao's expression turned ugly; he even felt unsteady on his feet. The gap was just too big—one in the heavens, one on the earth—how could they compare?
"My judgment, Lin Liu, was indeed not mistaken."
Lin Liu's lips curled into a smile, and a flash of excitement glimmered in her eyes as she said,
"No, I must catch up to him! Only someone like him, a Mechanical Man, is worthy of being my man! I'm willing to give everything for him!"
Tian Mei's cheeks flushed with heat too, longing to be with Xu Gu, living and loving together.
In this martial world where the law of the jungle prevails, no girl would not want her other half to be powerful!
Wang Lishuo and Zhang Chao, who had feelings for Lin Liu, wore even uglier expressions, as if they had eaten shit.
The goddess of their hearts turned out to be nothing but a groveler in front of Xu Gu!
This was far too unfair!
Sun Mo, who was planning to pursue Tian Mei, looked at her expression and felt disheartened.
Lin Changfeng noticed everyone's mood and said, "This is a good thing. These materials that Xu Gu didn't pick up, it seems he doesn't have time or need for them. You can take them. It's quite a significant amount.
"Also, the Steel Hyena pack of Evil Dog Ridge has been decimated, only a few scattered Steel Hyenas are left. This should make your leveling a bit more friendly!"
"Yes!" Zhang Chao and Wang Lishuo, as well as Sun Mo, had mixed emotions. A moment ago, they looked down on Xu Gu, and now they find themselves scavenging the garbage Xu Gu didn't want.
And the key point is, it indeed smells really freaking sweet.
Xu Gu didn't know about these incidents, and even if he did, he wouldn't have any reaction.
They're simply not on the same level.
A mere A-level and they're thinking of bumping into someone with SSS-level cheat codes?
They were already shocked just knowing that he slaughtered a group of ordinary Level 5 Hyenas.
If they knew he had just killed a Level 20 Elite Frost Steel Tiger, wouldn't they go utterly mad?
...
Xu Gu continued to forge ahead.
Seeing that the powerful Steel Beasts ahead were becoming fewer, Xu Gu couldn't find a way to gather enough experience to promote to Level 4 and couldn't help feeling vexed.
"Damn it! They're all too weak!"
"How can these Steel Beasts be so weak!!!"
"If only Xia City had a Mechanical Abyss of its own!"
Xu Gu muttered to himself.
While he was thinking this way, he gripped the Blue Fury Sky Slash in his hand, already flickering with arcs of lightning, and continued to push forward.
Until,
An odd Steel Beast appeared before him.
[Warning!]
[Warning!]
[Warning!]
[Unknown Mechanical Monster detected! Origin from Mechanical Abyss unclear!]
"Speak of the Mechanical Abyss, and here it is?" Xu Gu's eyebrows raised slightly, surprised, "Or could it be just a crack from some Mechanical Abyss elsewhere that's seeped in?"
He was only stunned for a moment before dozens of Mechanical Monsters surged out in front of him.
Feeling the level of these adversaries, Xu Gu was overjoyed.
"No matter what, my long-awaited pack of Experience has arrived!"