16: Chapter 16 This unparalleled genius is none other than our No. 4 Middle School's newly awakened student!

Is this a freaking Mage?

What kind of Mage charges more violently than a heavy-duty truck?!

Moreover, the heavy armor he had just bought for his subordinate today had astonishing defensive power, capable of withstanding eight powerful attacks from a Level 20 Awakened.

Yet?

He was insta-killed by this kid in a single encounter?

The Shield Warrior bodyguard in front reacted extremely quickly, immediately raising the heavy Tower Shield in his hand to block for Zhao Feng, roaring, "Young Master, retreat quickly! This kid is playing tricks! He's definitely a high-strength Warrior disguised in a mage robe! Be careful!"

Having dealt with one, Jiang Feng turned around, the comical smile on his mask looking particularly eerie under the moonlight.

Without any pause, he waved his staff.

No fireball flew out.

He launched a second charge, targeting the tin can holding the shield.

"Come at me! My shield's defense is as high as five hundred! Even a Warrior of the same level can't break it!" the Shield Warrior roared, his body glowing with an earthy yellow light as he activated the skill [Immovable as a Mountain].

Jiang Feng's figure was like lightning, closing the distance in an instant.

There were no fancy techniques.

Just a simple and crude basic attack—the staff swung violently against the Tower Shield.

[100% Triggered Trait: Ancient War Titan's Wrath! This attack deals (Intelligence + Constitution + Strength) True Damage!]

Super terrifying True Damage; even a defense of 999.9 billion would be useless. It directly ignores defense!

Stat monsters don't lie; they are exceptionally pragmatic.

Bang!!!

A loud explosion rang out, like a sudden clap of thunder on level ground.

That indestructible steel Tower Shield shattered into a sky full of fragments under Jiang Feng's staff, as if it were fragile glass.

The staff's momentum didn't decrease as it slammed heavily onto the Shield Warrior's head.

The burly man didn't even groan; his head tilted, and he slumped to the ground like limp mud, a section of his thick helmet caved in.

Physical transcendence, immediate reincarnation.

The alleyway instantly fell silent.

Only the sound of some distant dog barking remained.

Jiang Feng shook off the non-existent blood on his staff and turned to look at Zhao Feng, who had already pissed himself in fear.

At this moment, Zhao Feng's legs were weak as he leaned against the wall trembling, a stream of warm liquid flowing down his pant leg.

His two proud high-level bodyguards hadn't even lasted a second in front of this monster.

What kind of monster is this?

A Mage?

To hell with that! What kind of Mage can shatter a Shield Warrior's shield with one strike of a stick! This isn't scientific!

"You... don't come over here..." Zhao Feng's voice trembled with a sob, "My dad is the Vice President of the Mad Lion Guild... I have money, I'll give you however much you want..."

Jiang Feng walked up to him step by step, looking down at this rich second-generation heir who had been so arrogant just moments ago.

"Money?"

Jiang Feng reached out, ripped off the priceless gemstone necklace from Zhao Feng's neck, and then skillfully slid off the three storage rings on his hands, his movements so practiced it was heartbreaking.

"Now, they are mine."

Jiang Feng's voice was flat, as if he were just picking up his own cabbage at a vegetable market.

"As for your dad..."

Jiang Feng raised his hand and slapped Zhao Feng across the face.

Slap!

Zhao Feng spun twice on the spot, two bloody teeth flew out, and his eyes rolled back as he fainted dead away.

"Tell him to send more rich people next time; this little bit isn't enough."

After finishing his looting, Jiang Feng glanced at the mess on the ground and skillfully activated a skill.

[Void Walk].

Space ripples shimmered, and that terrifying black figure vanished into thin air.

Leaving behind only debris all over the ground and three unlucky bastards whose fates were unknown.

That night, a terrifying urban legend began to spread through the Dongjiang City black market:

If you meet a man in a dark alley wearing a mage robe and a smiley face mask, never believe he is a Mage.

He's a freaking humanoid dragon! Whoever believes otherwise dies!

...

Before the morning mist had dissipated, the red brick walls of Dongjiang Fourth High School were gilded with a layer of gold by the early sun.

The air was mixed with the mundane scent of soy milk and fried dough sticks, along with an irrepressible restlessness.

Jiang Feng hung his faded white canvas bag over one shoulder, a half-eaten meat bun dangling from his mouth as he strolled slowly through the school gates. Having spent half the night "stocking up" at the black market and incidentally transcending a few blind fools, his eyelids were practically fighting to stay open.

As soon as he entered the gate, he realized something was wrong.

It was way too noisy.

Usually, at this time, the third-year seniors would either be memorizing skill formulas or discussing equipment parameters, looking like frost-bitten eggplants. Today, however, the playground was like a boiling pot, with everyone shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Did you hear? That 'Aeolus' last night was incredible. He didn't even use the main entrance; he just evaporated on the spot!"

"Nonsense! My cousin works in the City Defense Force. He said General Li Yan was so angry he almost smashed the helicopter! He said they’ll find the guy even if they have to dig three feet into the ground!"

"So freaking cool... Not even giving face to 'General Mad Dog,' that's the prestige of a real big shot!"

Chewing on his bun, Jiang Feng walked past these spittle-spraying classmates with a deadpan expression.

Eating gossip about himself—this experience was truly... quite wonderful.

He drifted over to the bulletin board, which was already crowded to the point of being impassable. In the center was a massive notice with black characters on a red background, stamped with the blood-red seal of the Dongjiang Military District, exuding an aura of slaughter.

[Bounty Order]

[Seeking the First Clearer of the Purgatory Difficulty with the codename '...Feng'!]

[Anyone providing effective leads will receive a reward of 1 million Federal Credits! Those who directly assist the military in finding the person will receive 5 million, plus a villa in the city center and an S-rank resource quota!]

[Signed: Li Yan]

"Ones, tens, hundreds..."

Jiang Feng squinted as he counted the string of zeros. His heart felt no ripples; he even felt a bit like laughing.

Fortunately, he had hidden his ID in advance; otherwise, he would have been found by this General Li long ago.

He didn't want to be discovered by other forces before he had a certain level of strength.

"Make way, everyone make way! The morning meeting is starting!"

The Dean's booming voice, which came with its own built-in megaphone, rang out.

On the podium, the old principal, Wang Jianguo, was glowing, his signature receding hairline reflecting the sunlight. He looked more excited than on his second wedding day, his hand holding the microphone trembling.

"Students! Quiet!"

The sound of static crackled, and the entire field instantly became silent.

"I presume everyone knows! Just yesterday! In our Dongjiang City! A peerless genius was born who solo-cleared a Purgatory-level dungeon!"

The old principal's voice was so high-pitched it cracked, spraying spittle all over the students in the front row.

"According to the military's precise big data calculations! This peerless genius is a student who just awakened at our Fourth High School!"

Whoosh—!

This sentence was like throwing a cigarette butt into a gasoline barrel.

All the students instantly went crazy, sizing up the classmates around them with eyes full of suspicion and expectation, wishing everyone had "I am the big shot" plastered on their foreheads.

"From our school? Holy crap, could it be my deskmate?"

"Give it a rest. Your deskmate has an E-rank Life Talent; he’d struggle to kill a chicken."

"Then is it Zhang Kuang from Class 1? He awakened as an A-rank Berserker!"

"Doesn't seem like it either. Zhang Kuang was still being tossed around by wild boars in a normal dungeon yesterday, crying for his parents. I saw it with my own eyes."

The old principal stood on the stage, his cloudy old eyes now bright like two searchlights, scanning every formation below inch by inch. He was looking. Looking for that student with an unruly gaze, a cold temperament, and who looked like a dragon among men at first glance.

His gaze swept over the third-year Class 2.

Jiang Feng stood at the very back of the line, shrinking his neck and perfectly using the body of the two-hundred-pound fat guy in front to block his line of sight. He held the last bite of the bun skin in his hand, debating whether to throw it away or eat it.

The old principal's gaze only lingered in that corner for 0.1 seconds before moving away in distaste.

A nobody with a B-rank Power-Leveling Talent was clearly not within his radar.

"No matter who this student is!" the old principal waved his fist passionately, "You are the pride of Fourth High! Please do not have any concerns—stand up! The country needs you! The school will give you the highest scholarship!"

Jiang Feng stuffed the bun skin into his mouth and swallowed it expressionlessly.

Hmm, not enough meat filling. One star.

...