5: Tai Chi - Lan Que Wei! I, Zhao Xuan, have not lost face!

“You have entered a Hell-level dungeon: Demonic Beast Mountain Range!”

Ye Ze stood in a desolate valley entrance, surrounded by dark mountains. A biting wind swept through, devoid of any signs of life.

“Demonic Beast Mountain Range?”

He recalled that “First-Year History: The Reclamation of the Abyss Pollution Land” had mentioned it.

The demonic aura from the Abyss had polluted this mountain range, which was originally rich in diverse wildlife and had a healthy ecosystem. The military had successfully cleared it at great cost.

The artificial Hell-level dungeon perfectly recreated the scene from that time.

With a thought, Ye Ze summoned Kung Fu Panda!

A Tai Chi array instantly expanded from the ground.

Then, a two-meter-tall, somewhat clumsy Panda, dressed in a Daoist robe, appeared at the center of the array.

Upon its appearance, it struck a “White Crane Spreads Wings” pose.

“Woo—!”

Ye Ze’s mouth twitched. “Alright, Panda, I know you know Kung Fu.”

He and the Panda prepared to head deeper into the mountain range.

The Panda, with average attributes around 25 points, was twice as strong as a Warrior, and its max-level legendary skills provided an extraordinary sense of security.

The only flaw was that they currently had no equipment.

It wasn't that he didn't want to buy it; Ye Ze simply didn't have enough money to afford a set of high-quality equipment, and the cost-effectiveness was too low anyway.

It was better to just clear the dungeon for drops.

“Crack—”

As soon as they stepped onto the small path at the valley entrance, the surrounding rocks suddenly began to crack.

Four massive dark figures burst through the rocks and swiftly attacked.

They resembled dark gray rhinos covered in thick, rocky carapaces.

“Stone Armor Beast (Lv.3)”

Type: Normal-level Demonic Beast

Skills: Stone Armor, Charge.

————

Four Level 3 Demonic Beasts!

“The first wave of mobs is Level 3, and they have two skills. As expected of Hell difficulty!”

Dungeons adjust the level of monsters based on the Professional’s level.

Ye Ze, only Level 1, had to face the encirclement of four Level 3 Demonic Beasts…

Although the Stone Armor Beast was huge, its foot structure was special, allowing it to run on cliffs.

They charged towards Ye Ze like several massive rolling boulders.

Such an impact, even for a fully armored Shield Guard, would result in at least severe injury from a direct hit.

This was merely the “greeting gift” of a Hell-level dungeon!

But Ye Ze remained unperturbed, not moving a muscle.

“Kill.”

Kung Fu Panda stood in front of Ye Ze, striking an elegant starting pose:

“Hoo—”

Its two black Panda hands moved like flowing water, as if embracing and deflecting, and an invisible aura flowed in the air.

“Tai Chi Fist Twenty-Four Forms—Lanque Tail”

“Activates a blocking state, neutralizing the opponent's frontal attack and performing a counterattack using borrowed force.”

Tai Chi Fist is not just a single skill.

The effects each move can produce are equally powerful!

Almost instantly.

The full force of one Stone Armor Beast’s charge was easily neutralized by Lanque Tail’s gravitational pull.

Then, the Panda redirected the borrowed force to another, accompanied by a burst of qi!

Boom—!

Both Stone Armor Beasts were embedded in the mountain, leaving a large crater, their bodies mangled.

Instantly killed!

“Killed Normal Demonic Beast: Stone Armor Beast, gained Experience +9!”

“Killed Normal Demonic Beast: Stone Armor Beast, gained Experience +9!”

Two Demonic Beasts gave 18 Experience points!

The bonus from the Hell-level dungeon, combined with killing higher-level monsters, made the experience gain incredibly efficient!

Ye Ze couldn't help but feel a thrill. At this rate, he would level up very quickly!

And the next moment.

The Panda turned again to the other two Stone Armor Beasts.

With their speed, they naturally posed no threat to the Epic 1-star Panda, which took down both with another Lanque Tail.

“Killed Stone Armor Beast * 2…”

“Level: 1 (36/100)”

With a third of the experience points, the next golden affix was not far off.

Four Stone Armor Beasts, which would have been enough to put a novice team into a bitter struggle, or even cause a wipe, were handled effortlessly by the Panda.

The Panda was completely unharmed and ended with an elegant closing pose.

“Oh? It dropped so much!”

Ye Ze looked at the corpses of the four Stone Armor Beasts.

Dungeon monsters are formed from crystal energy; upon death, their bodies disappear, leaving behind the appropriate loot…

Four crystals, one skill book, and one piece of equipment.

Crystals have always sold for no less than 10,000 in the exchange, so he had at least 40,000 in hand.

“Falling Stone Spell (Normal): Earth-element skill book, usable by Mage-type Professionals.”

“Giant Rock Armor (Normal): HP +50, Physical Defense +5, Agility -2. Equipment Requirement: Level 1.”

The drop rate for normal-level monsters was originally only about 5%.

It seemed the Hell-level dungeon significantly increased the drop rate.

The skill book could be kept to sell.

Ye Ze immediately put on the Giant Rock Armor.

Although it reduced Agility, for a Summoner, survival ability was the most important!

If he needed to run, he could always take it off…

Ye Ze and the Panda continued forward, along the small path at the valley entrance.

According to textbooks, the Demonic Beast Mountain Range was divided into three stages:

The foothills connected to the valley entrance, the mid-mountain where monsters were stronger, and the boss's location—the secluded valley.

Level 3 normal Demonic Beasts should be scattered throughout the foothills.

But a problem arose:

Perhaps their fight with the Stone Armor Beasts was too loud, making the lower-level Demonic Beasts feel threatened.

They actually hid themselves!

This was a deliberate act of weakness, preparing to let Ye Ze pass into the higher-level Demonic Beast area.

But Ye Ze was not in a hurry.

Because the higher the difficulty of the dungeon, the higher the intelligence of the monsters.

At Hell difficulty, they were no different from real Demonic Beasts in reality—extremely cunning!

There was a negative case in history textbooks:

A naive female Mage, during a reclamation, spared a cunning Demonic Rabbit because it was cute.

This led to the cunning rabbit finding an opportunity to ambush and kill the Priest in the team from behind;

The team fell into chaos, and ultimately, no one survived.

Therefore, when facing Demonic Beasts and demons, one must not show any leniency or rely on luck.

“Search the mountain!”

At Ye Ze's command, the Panda’s fighting spirit soared, its gaze sweeping across the entire foothills.

“Search carefully! Don't let a single one escape!”

…

Outside the dungeon entrance.

Although they couldn't see what was happening inside the dungeon, many people were still gathered, watching.

Everyone wanted to see who would fail first in this big gamble.

“I guess Ye Ze should be coming out soon. He probably can't even get past the first mob!”

“Definitely. Solo? Even the Elite Class big shots can't clear it in a team!”

“Young Master Zhao should be able to last a few more rounds…”

“Ten minutes have passed. If Ye Ze can hold on for ten minutes, I think he's already more impressive than me!”

Another 20 minutes passed since the bet began.

Both Zhao Xuan and Ye Ze lasting this long had exceeded everyone's expectations.

At this moment, the dungeon entrance suddenly flashed with light!

A weakened figure lay on the ground.

Everyone excitedly gathered around.

“Who is it!”

“Did Ye Ze come out?”

“Being able to last 30 minutes is already very good!”

“What the hell? Young Master Zhao!!!”

Zhao Xuan lay on the ground.

Looking at the excited crowd around him, he felt a secret satisfaction:

“I lasted thirty minutes in Hell difficulty; I didn't disgrace Zhao.”

But in fact, during the very first wave against the Stone Armor Beasts, his Chasing Wind Wolf was severely injured protecting him.

He then fled frantically, hiding everywhere.

He only completely failed when the Demonic Beasts smelled him just now.

“Although the process was a bit humiliating, as long as I win, that's all that matters!”

“Only victory can explain everything!!”

The onlookers grew noisy, filled with shock, doubt, and disbelief.

Zhao Xuan’s lips curved upwards, his eyes slightly closed, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.

He didn't notice his Ms. Secretary, who was with him, looking flustered.

Zhao Xuan casually asked, “When did Ye Ze come out?”

“10 minutes, or 5 minutes?”

The Ms. Secretary pursed her lips and whispered as softly as possible, “Ye Ze, he, he hasn't come out yet…”

The next moment.

Zhao Xuan instantly sat up, his previously narrowed eyes widening like brass bells!

His voice rose eight octaves:

“What—!”