Fangyan stepped out of the academy gates, which were guarded by two Hunters dressed in black uniforms. The guards merely glanced at him but did not stop him—as if his existence was too unfamiliar for them to handle.
Once past the academy's boundary, Fangyan took in the view of the city before him. Towering skyscrapers stretched into the sky, vehicles moved along the streets with advanced technology, and numerous holographic screens displayed the latest news and information.
"This world is truly different from the world of cultivation."
Fangyan had little interest in the bustling city life. Right now, only one thing occupied his mind.
Money.
Even though he had reached the pinnacle of strength and could destroy this world if he wished, living without money was still inconvenient. This world seemed entirely dependent on a structured economic system, and if he wanted to live a relaxed life, he needed a way to earn money.
"I could work… but that would be a waste of time."
He had no desire to be tied down by jobs or the rules of others.
"Becoming a Hunter might be a good option, but I'd have to register, and that's troublesome."
In the end, he decided on one thing:
"I'll hunt and sell the spoils."
If this world still had a market for selling meat or hunted goods, then he could make money easily without being bound by the Hunter system.
Without wasting any time, Fangyan leaped into the air and flew straight toward the mountains outside the city.
A Lifeless Forest
Upon landing in a vast forest, Fangyan immediately began scanning the area with his extraordinary speed.
In mere seconds, he had explored dozens of kilometers of woodland.
However, something was off.
There were no signs of wildlife.
No wild chickens.
No deer.
No rabbits.
Not even birds.
"What is going on here?"
Fangyan frowned. In his experience, even in the world of cultivation, a fertile place like this would always be inhabited by weaker creatures.
But here, everything was empty.
He began to think.
"Is this because of the dungeon monsters?"
From what he had seen on the academy's holograms, this world had dungeons and gates, places where monsters spawned and attacked. If those monsters frequently emerged, perhaps they had wiped out the local wildlife.
Or…
"Maybe this world protects livestock with a system."
If humans in this world relied too much on the system, it wasn't impossible that some law protected livestock from extinction.
Or…
"Perhaps there's a large gate nearby."
If a large dungeon portal existed in this forest, then maybe the smaller creatures had instinctively fled from the area.
As Fangyan walked through the eerily silent forest, he continued to consider the possibilities.
Then…
He saw it.
In the distance, a massive portal glowed with a deep blue light, standing tall in the middle of the forest.
In front of it, a large group of Hunters had gathered—they seemed to be preparing to enter the dungeon.
Fangyan stopped, his eyes narrowing.
"So this is the source."
He watched as the Hunters discussed strategies, checked their equipment, and made final preparations. Some appeared experienced, while others looked nervous—likely beginners.
From his observations, the portal seemed stable. That meant the dungeon inside was not collapsing and could still be explored safely.
Fangyan considered his options.
"If this world has no wild animals to hunt… maybe I can make money another way."
His eyes gleamed.
Without hesitat
ion, he began walking toward the group of Hunters gathered at the dungeon entrance.