Volume 2: Setting Forth Chapter 11: Damn it, rookies have no rights!

It took the group about half an hour to find a location that was barely adequate in every respect.

Early the next morning, Shen Feng and his team awoke one by one in the branches of a towering tree. Indeed, this massive tree was the makeshift campsite they had settled on the previous night. After discussing it among themselves, they had decided to take turns standing guard to watch for Star Beast attacks, while the others rested on the thick branches.

"Hey, you're all awake. Watching you sleep was torture," Su Yu said, jumping down from the highest branch. He yawned, his expression one of envy. Having drawn the short straw to take the final watch, he had no one to blame but his own bad luck.

"We all drew lots together. You drew the last shift, so who can you blame?" Jiang Yunyan teased with a playful smile.

Wang Jue, being a newcomer, was spending his first night in the dangerous wilderness and hadn't been required to draw lots. With veterans like Shen Feng around to detect danger immediately, he hadn't needed to worry. Even so, he had been on edge all night. In fact, he barely slept, only drifting off once it was nearly dawn and he could no longer hold out. Now, as the others stirred, the noise woke him as well, though he looked a bit listless.

"Since everyone is up, let's have some rations to fill our stomachs. We'll be heading deeper into the Middle Ring to hunt a One-Horned Rhino soon," Shen Feng said, rummaging through his backpack for food.

"What?"

"A One-Horned Rhino?!"

Jiang Yunyan, Jiang Yunxin, and Su Yu all paled, their voices filled with shock. Wang Jue, meanwhile, looked at them in utter bewilderment. *Why am I the only one who doesn't understand? Do rookies have no right to be informed?*

The sisters were too preoccupied with their own solemn thoughts to explain it to him. It was Su Yu who noticed Wang Jue’s confusion and asked Shen Feng hesitantly, "Isn't it a bit too soon to hunt a One-Horned Rhino?"

"I had intended to let Wang Jue acclimate for a couple of days first," Shen Feng mused, "but after seeing his performance last night, I believe we can move the plan forward." In his view, while Wang Jue might not yet be qualified to serve as a main combatant, he was certainly capable of handling support duties.

"Captain, even though I agree that Wang Jue performed well last night, the One-Horned Rhino is a Level 3 Star Beast, and a gifted one at that. It’s arguably one of the most difficult Level 3 beasts to deal with; its strength is not inferior to some Level 4 beasts, and it might even be stronger!" Jiang Yunyan frowned. "Even if we work together, we might not be able to take it down. With Wang Jue joining us, one slip-up could lead to serious injury or death. We could all end up losing our lives."

"She’s right, Captain. The cost is too high for us!" Su Yu added, his concern evident. "I think Yan is right. The One-Horned Rhino is just too dangerous for our squad. It’s impossible for us to kill it without suffering any casualties."

Jiang Yunxin, the quiet one of the group, looked back and forth between them and decided to stay silent, as was her usual role in the team.

Shen Feng didn't say anything, but instead asked Wang Jue with a smile, "Wang Jue, what do you think about this?"

"I don't think anything of it!" Wang Jue replied blankly, not even pausing to consider. However, seeing Shen Feng’s slightly awkward expression, he composed his thoughts and said, "Captain, I don't mind seeing this One-Horned Rhino you speak of. But if it truly is a Level 3 Star Beast, I won't be able to contribute much. At most, I can provide cover for you all."

"While I have confidence in my strength, that confidence only applies to Level 2 Star Beasts. If we’re talking about Level 3, it’s embarrassing to say, but my attacks would probably just tickle it—if it even felt them at all." He had enough self-awareness to know that even with his "cheat" abilities, he couldn't handle a beast that possessed the strength of a Level 4. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but it was simply beyond his current capabilities.

Shen Feng was silent for a moment, but ultimately chose to proceed with the plan.

...

The Mist Forest was immense, artificially divided into four major zones: the Outer Rim, the Middle Ring, the Inner Ring, and the core Forbidden Zone. The Outer Rim was populated mostly by Level 1 and 2 Star Beasts. Star Beasts had a hierarchy, and higher-level beasts rarely lowered themselves to enter the Outer Rim. The Middle Ring was home to Level 3 and 4 beasts, while the Inner Ring was the domain of Level 5 and 6 beasts, with occasional sightings of Level 7 and 8 creatures. Similarly, the powerful beasts of the Inner Ring did not venture into the Middle Ring.

The core Forbidden Zone was not only treacherous in terrain but also home to terrifying Level 7 to 9 beasts. A Level 9 beast was equivalent to a human expert at the Violet Star Stage and was considered a hegemon among beasts. Therefore, even for warriors below the Violet Star Stage, entering that zone was a suicide mission, and even those at the Violet Star Stage would have a nine-in-ten chance of death if they entered alone. To date, no one had heard of any expert who had ventured into the core and returned unscathed.

Wang Jue and his team were currently in the Outer Rim. With the strength of the Hurricane Squad, they were among the strongest in this area. Typical Level 1 or 2 beasts posed no significant threat to them, which was why they had easily dispatched the dozen Red-Eyed Grey Wolves the previous night—the gap in levels was simply too great. Otherwise, a standard Spirit-Refining stage squad encountering those wolves would have likely faced disaster. As for Shen Feng's earlier claim that it would take some effort to handle them, Wang Jue could only scoff, having seen them in action.

As captain, Shen Feng had the final say. The group ultimately decided to head toward the Middle Ring. The One-Horned Rhino they were targeting was a Level 3 beast they had discovered during their last trip. They had delayed the hunt because they had run out of supplies and lacked sufficient preparation. Normally, after returning to a safe zone, they would rest for ten to fifteen days, rarely rushing back to the border battlefield after only three days of recovery.

According to Shen Feng, this particular rhino was gifted and highly likely to possess a Beast Core. The most valuable part of any Star Beast was its core, and killing it would surely lead to a huge payday. Since Wang Jue’s strength had been acknowledged, they wouldn't need to be as distracted by protecting him, allowing them to focus fully on the rhino. They understood the danger of delay—they had already waited four or five days, and there was no telling if someone else might discover the beast or if it might rejoin its herd.

...

"Wang Jue, go take care of that Level 2 Scaled Rat," Shen Feng said, stopping in his tracks. He pointed his chin toward a massive Star Beast feeding ahead, then leaned casually against a tree trunk, pulled a water skin from his pack, and began to drink.

The rest of the team stopped as well, either sitting on the ground or jumping into the trees to eat their rations. Everyone wore an expression of eager anticipation, as if waiting for a show.

The massive Scaled Rat had noticed them. It raised its head, its copper-bell-sized eyes glowing red as it glared at the group. Its body was covered in thick scales, resembling an armored vehicle and exuding a heavy sense of oppression. All Star Beasts shared one common trait: they were huge. The Red-Eyed Grey Wolves from the night before had been over two meters tall at the shoulder, capable of biting a person in half, but compared to this Scaled Rat, they were tiny. Despite the name, the creature bore no resemblance to a rodent.

*Damn it, rookies have no human rights!* Wang Jue thought, feeling speechless at his teammates’ amusement as he drew his weapon and walked forward.

"Squeak! Squeak!" The Scaled Rat hissed, looking incredibly irritable. It stomped its hind paws, digging into the earth as it prepared to charge.

They had been about two hundred meters apart, but as Wang Jue closed the distance to under a hundred meters, the rat lunged.

"Hrrggghhh!" It roared as it sprinted toward Wang Jue. *Holy crap, how is it so fast?* Wang Jue narrowed his eyes. Despite its massive size, the rat was surprisingly agile and fast, the ground shaking with every thundering step.

"So, do you think Wang Jue can take care of that Scaled Rat?" Jiang Yunyan asked.

Shen Feng laughed nonchalantly. "Based on the strength he showed last night, it shouldn't be a problem. Instead of worrying about if he can win, let’s guess how long it will take him. Interested in a wager?"

"Sure, what are we betting?" Jiang Yunyan licked her red lips, instantly intrigued.

Seeing the bait taken, Shen Feng smiled. "Just for fun—ten Star Energy Stones, how about it?"

"Deal!" Jiang Yunyan agreed, then added, "I guess ten minutes!"

"Wang Jue seems to excel in speed, but I don't know about his strength or armor-piercing ability. I'll guess fifteen minutes," Su Yu joined in.

Even Jiang Yunxin, the quiet one, joined the game excitedly. "Hmm, I guess... five minutes."

Shen Feng smiled slightly and gave his own answer: "I bet under one minute."

"You’re kidding, Captain!" Jiang Yunyan exclaimed. "Even if you think highly of him, isn't one minute a bit exaggerated?"

"Heh, wait for the result. You all just get ready to hand over your Star Energy Stones," Shen Feng said with a sly grin. He didn't just trust in Wang Jue’s strength; he trusted in Pavilion Master Ning Chuan. He knew Ning Chuan well, and in all his memories, the man never did favors for personal reasons. If Ning Chuan had insisted on forcing Wang Jue into the Hurricane Squad, it was proof enough that the boy had the skill.

Fortunately, Wang Jue was unaware of what his unscrupulous teammates were doing, or he might have been angry enough to cough up blood.