Chapter 35: Entering the Dungeon with the Master

For example, take Zhang Quan right in front of me.

As an ordinary person as weak as a fledgling, not only did he survive within the 3S-level dungeon, he even managed to sneak out a fragment of a seventh-grade lotus leaf, and, in a daze, acquired a powerful teleportation ability. Who knows, perhaps in the future he’ll obtain a rare Plant Spirit or Blood Crystal!

Even the most treasured Origin Spirit is not beyond the realm of possibility.

This is precisely why Yu Yan is willing to show kindness to Zhang Quan and forge a thread of goodwill with him.

Otherwise, with so much high-grade spirit beast meat in her spatial storage, why would she covet Zhang Quan’s meager offering? Eating his meat is her way of expressing a desire for reconciliation, to let Zhang Quan settle his heart and stop treating her as an enemy.

Of course, that’s also because Zhang Quan’s actions have not truly harmed her.

The little conflict outside the Lake Light Water Color dungeon is nothing compared to the arrival of the dungeon world—it’s barely a drizzle in the grand scheme of things.

The arrival of the dungeon world changed everything on Blue Star. From lifestyle to habits, many people’s masks were torn away, revealing their savage and selfish sides. Yet there were others who, though unimpressive before the dungeon world descended, shone with the brilliance of humanity at critical moments!

Yu Yan cannot yet say whether Zhang Quan belongs to the former or the latter.

But at least one thing is clear to Yu Yan: Zhang Quan is exceedingly lucky, and his teleportation ability is highly practical.

So she doesn’t mind scattering some harmless benefits his way.

Seeing Zhang Quan’s eager expression, clearly intrigued by the spirit vein, Yu Yan decided to go the extra mile. “Spirit veins only drop from creatures above the Profound rank. If you want a spirit vein, forget about the nearby E-level dungeon.”

“You’ll at least need to enter a D-level or higher dungeon and kill a creature of fourth grade or above.”

E-level dungeons only spawn one to three Profound-rank creatures.

Even if Zhang Quan got lucky, encountered Profound-rank creatures in an E-level dungeon, and managed to kill them, with at most three creatures and a drop rate of one in a thousand for spirit veins, it’s simply too unlikely.

Zhang Quan fell silent.

With their squad’s strength, entering the nearby E-level dungeon could easily lead to injury. Ordinary fierce beasts and birds are manageable, but if they encounter a herd of Howling Boars, everyone would end up battered.

A D-level or higher dungeon? He wouldn’t even dare to dream of it.

It seemed he had little hope of advancing further in this lifetime.

Zhang Quan’s gaze dimmed.

Yu Yan finished her explanation, and the lingering unease in her heart finally faded. Her relatives must have escaped danger. Jubilant, Yu Yan announced, “Tomorrow, I’m going to ‘Fuzhu Stone Forest’ for a bit, to get some Howling Boar meat.”

---

“If you’re interested, Zhang Quan, you can come along.”

The E-level dungeon near Lu Hao’s villa was none other than Fuzhu Stone Forest.

On her way here with Yun Duo’er, Yu Yan glanced at the dungeon and noticed, besides Howling Boar meat, a plant she found intriguing. Naturally, Zhang Quan wouldn’t refuse the big shot’s invitation. “Sure, I’ll shamelessly tag along tomorrow.”

Early the next morning, Zhang Quan appeared at the villa entrance.

Afraid to disturb Yu Yan by knocking, he quietly waited on the steps.

Three people stood behind him—Lu Hao, Hao Guangming, and Song Xiaoqing. Lu Hao and Song Xiaoqing insisted on coming, and as for Hao Guangming... If Song Xiaoqing and Lu Hao were determined, there must be some benefit. How could he miss out? Besides, they’d all eaten Howling Boar meat and undergone physique enhancement.

If Hao Guangming and Song Xiaoqing could go, so could he!

When the door opened, Zhang Quan quickly stood, rubbed his face, and flashed his most ingratiating smile. “Big... Oh, Yan, you’re coming with the big shot to ‘Fuzhu Stone Forest’?”

Tang Yan’s already dark face became even darker.

Was this a challenge for his position as the boss’s right-hand man?

He’d just acknowledged his boss yesterday, and already someone was eager to compete for status?

Yu Yan walked over, holding Yun Duo’er’s hand, a palm-sized, unknown bird perched on her shoulder. Its glossy, dark teal feathers marked it as no ordinary creature. Lu Hao narrowed his eyes—this woman was definitely hiding something! Last night, he hadn’t seen her with a child.

So where had the child suddenly appeared from? And the bird on her shoulder... Lu Hao’s intuition told him it was even more dangerous than the Howling Boars in Fuzhu Stone Forest.

Zhang Quan, however, didn’t think much of it.

To him, Yu Yan was a big shot, effortlessly navigating 3S-level dungeons! So what if she now had a kid and a powerful bird? It was nothing. The big shot could stroll through 3S dungeons at will.

It must be said, Zhang Quan’s misunderstanding of Yu Yan was immense.

“Big shot!”

Zhang Quan stood ramrod straight, excitement and anticipation in his heart.

Today, he could actually venture into a dungeon with the big shot—enough to brag about for the rest of his life!

“Mm.”

---

Yu Yan glanced at the people behind Zhang Quan, making him nervous. “Big shot, when I said I’d join you in the dungeon this morning, these guys insisted on coming. They have some skills, having eaten Howling Boar meat and undergone physique enhancement. So... cough!”

“If you’re not okay with it, big shot, I’ll send them back immediately!”

“No need. Since they’re here, let’s go.”

Having decided to bestow a favor upon Zhang Quan, Yu Yan wasn’t fond of Lu Hao and the others, but wouldn’t deny Zhang Quan this small bit of face. She led the group into Fuzhu Stone Forest. As the name suggests, it was a vast expanse of stone formations.

In the midst of the stone forest was a patch of shrubs no higher than three meters.

According to Zhang Quan, every time they tried to approach the shrubs, a horde of Howling Boars would charge out—hundreds, even thousands. At this point, Zhang Quan paused, evidently recalling some unpleasant memories.

He continued, “But as long as we don’t approach the shrubs, there are far fewer Howling Boars.”

Occasionally, they’d encounter one or two, and that’s how they’d acquired their Howling Boar meat.

“Big shot, we can’t go any farther.”

Seeing Yu Yan lead them straight toward the shrubs, Zhang Quan began to sweat. “That’s where the Howling Boars gather. If we go any closer, they’ll come charging.”

The thought of a swarm of Howling Boars rushing toward them made Zhang Quan uneasy.

What to do? He desperately wanted to escape!

But if he abandoned the big shot now, she’d surely be angry. Their newly improved relationship would instantly revert to its former hostility.

Torn between conflicting thoughts, Zhang Quan gritted his teeth in the end. “Let’s do it!”

“As the saying goes, a man dies but a bird flies to the sky—I, Zhang Quan, am no coward.”

“Deserting on the battlefield is for cowards. I refuse to become like Wang Dazhu, that spineless fool!”

Having barely steeled himself, Zhang Quan looked back to see that Song Xiaoqing and Hao Guangming had somehow already fallen far behind. Only Lu Hao remained close at his side, and Zhang Quan couldn’t help but feel moved: a true brother!

Thankfully, he hadn’t punished Lu Hao for last night’s incident.

When they got back—well, if he survived this ordeal—Lu Hao would be his sworn brother! Second only to his grandmother in his heart, Zhang Quan silently vowed.