When Yogan returned, a dozen students were sitting together, their eyes scanning the surroundings warily. The memory of their previous encounter with evil warriors was still fresh, and they dared not let their guard down.

In the middle of the group, Jiang Qiuran sat cross-legged, a sword in her hand. Her pale, pretty face looked slightly sad under the moonlight.

Chen Quan lay on the ground, his arms and legs spread out, staring at the night sky with an intense gaze. Everything he had experienced that day was more thrilling than the eighteen years he had lived before.

"Brother Yogan hasn't come back yet?" he muttered to himself. He had been gone for more than half an hour. Could something have happened?

"I don't know," Jiang Qiuran replied, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly as she spoke in a calm tone.

At that moment, the group around them stirred. The young man with sword-like eyebrows narrowed his eyes and shouted in surprise.

"There's movement!"

Suddenly, everyone's attention shifted toward the dark forest nearby.

When they saw the bloodstained figure of Yogan emerging from the shadows, their tense minds relaxed instantly. The vigilance in their eyes quickly shifted to curiosity and excitement.

Yogan approached the group with his usual calm demeanor.

Chen Quan jumped to his feet, pushing through the crowd and shouting, "Brother Yogan!"

Yogan nodded at him, his gaze shifting to the girl in the center of the group, wearing a light blue martial arts uniform. She had her head lowered, as if deliberately avoiding looking at him.

Yogan chuckled softly. Comparing Jiang Qiuran to He Qing in the game world, he found the girl in front of him to be innocent and a little cute.

He walked forward slowly, reaching out to gently touch her head.

Jiang Qiuran clenched her fists, feeling her disheveled hair. She raised her head and shot him a look, rolling her eyes.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"The trial isn't over yet. Let's go," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Yogan glanced at the dark night ahead and nodded. "Ah, do you want to go deeper?" Chen Quan asked, dragging his battered shield with a reluctant look.

But no one paid attention to him.

Yogan walked forward into the night with his hands at his sides.

Jiang Qiuran silently stood up, hung her long sword at her waist, and followed without a word.

"Hey, you all go back," Chen Quan sighed and waved to the young man with sword-like eyebrows. He then lowered his head and hurried after them.

As the three of them walked away, the area erupted into a fervent discussion.

"F**k! Jiang Qiuran's martial arts strength isn't the best in Linhai?"

"That Yogan is too fierce!"

"I heard he participated in the Qianlong training camp and is only in his second year of high school!"

"His strength must be at least the peak of the first grade!"

"So fierce!"

Amid the exclamations and excited chatter, the young man with sword-like eyebrows stared at Yogan's retreating figure, his eyes filled with admiration and fanaticism. His body trembled with excitement.

"Yogan, how much strength have you been hiding?" he muttered to himself.

As they walked through the quiet mountains and forests, Jiang Qiuran finally couldn't suppress the curiosity building within her. She subconsciously bit her lip, glancing at Yogan before asking, "How much strength have you hidden?"

Chen Quan, equally curious, quickened his pace to catch up, eager to hear Yogan's response.

Yogan himself didn't know how to answer. He could only smile and remain silent.

"I feel like Brother Yogan must be at the peak of the first grade, or even the second grade..." Chen Quan muttered, his shield bouncing on his back, but no one paid him any attention.

Jiang Qiuran's beautiful eyes widened in surprise. She had always been the top student at Linhai No. 1 Middle School, but Yogan's presence had shattered her confidence. Now, with his strength continuously becoming more apparent, the gap between them seemed to grow larger, and the tension in her heart deepened.

The next time they encountered a fierce beast along the way, Jiang Qiuran vowed to take the lead and hone her own strength. With each beast she killed, she cast a look of determined unwillingness at Yogan—her silent way of showing her resolve in martial arts.

Yogan didn't pay much attention to her subtle thoughts. Instead, he focused all his energy on refining his alienated combat body. He aimed to balance the energy of heaven and earth with the alienated energy in his body when he entered the game world again.

By the early morning, the three of them passed through a small canyon. Suddenly, a playful voice called out from the side.

"Hey! Are you students from Linhai City?" They looked over.

A young man, dressed flamboyantly, with a lazy smile on his face, was leaning against the top of the canyon. He looked down at them from his elevated position.

"Li Dan from Changhe City, as strong as Jiang Jie," Chen Quan recognized the young man instantly, whispering to Yogan.

"In the last five-city exam, he lost to me by half a move!" Jiang Qiuran added expressionlessly, glancing at him.

"Yes... yes, he can't beat Jiang Jie," Chen Quan chuckled, quickly changing his words.

"Jiang Qiuran, are you interested in cooperating?" Li Dan stood up and walked over, still smiling.

As he approached, Yogan noticed that the other man had dyed purple hair and was wearing a colorful martial arts uniform. His appearance was highly ostentatious.

Yogan gave Jiang Qiuran a silent glance, stepping back to indicate that the conversation was hers to lead.

Understanding his cue, Jiang Qiuran stepped forward, her long legs carrying her with ease. "What cooperation?" she asked in a calm voice.

Li Dan's eyes briefly swept over Yogan and Chen Quan but didn't linger for long. His gaze fixed on Jiang Qiuran as he smiled and said, "Last night, our team found a valley in the wilderness area, and inside it was a level 2 beast. We also discovered some valuable items."

"A level 2 beast?" Jiang Qiuran's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but her expression remained unchanged as she glanced at Yogan before continuing, "What kind of valuable items?"

"Energy storage fruit!" Li Dan said after a brief pause, a mischievous chuckle escaping his lips.