Zhou Leng and Li Yuanhe walked into the community, passing by the fitness corner where several familiar children were training.

The youngest were seven or eight, the oldest fifteen or sixteen.

Some were doing pull-ups, some practicing fist techniques, and some were working on stepping techniques.

"Brother Li Yuanhe."

The children stopped one by one.

In Dragon Bay Community, Zhang Xinglie was the most popular, followed by Li Yuanhe.

Because Li Yuanhe went to military school and is now a professional soldier, in the eyes of some fans, he's even cooler than Zhang Xinglie.

Having not seen them for a long time, Li Yuanhe chatted with them with a smile.

"Zhang Xiaoxiao, why have you gotten thinner again? Eat more."

A quiet girl gave a shy smile and nodded vigorously.

Zhou Leng knew Zhang Xiaoxiao.

When Zhou Leng was a child, her grandmother often gave out homemade snacks. She was a kind old lady.

They used to play together, but after Zhang Xiaoxiao went to school, they lost contact.

She was said to be attending Fifty-Ninth Middle School and living with her grandmother.

People in the community often praised her for being filial, doing well in her studies and martial arts, saying she was a good seedling no less than Li Yuanhe.

Seeing Zhang Xiaoxiao so skinny, with her cheeks even slightly sunken, Zhou Leng frowned slightly.

This child is too thin.

So, he opened his backpack, took out chocolates, jerky, and nuts from his Magic Spirit Bag to replenish their strength, and distributed them to the kids.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou Leng!"

The children thanked him loudly.

Zhou Leng gave Zhang Xiaoxiao a big handful of snacks and stuffed her pockets with lots of chocolates.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou Leng," Zhang Xiaoxiao thanked clumsily.

When Zhou Leng gave her chocolates, she was different from the other kids.

She seemed to resist, but also a bit afraid, but quickly returned to normal.

After chatting with Li Yuanhe, the kids unexpectedly turned their attention to Zhou Leng.

"Brother Zhou Leng, my mom says you're really awesome now, is that true?"

"She also says you're second on Rucheng Freshman Chart, and soon you'll catch up to Brother Zhang Xinglie."

"Yes, people in the community talk about you more than Brother Zhang Xinglie now."

Zhou Leng didn't expect the news to spread so fast, he simply smiled and said it was nothing.

After chatting, Zhou Leng and Li Yuanhe went upstairs.

Because he had been tired for several days, Zhou Leng chatted a little with Li Linhan, went home to take a shower, and then lay on the bed.

He browsed his phone.

Having missed too much in recent days, he quickly browsed through his social circle.

Xu Qingjin's posts were ordinary, always full of everyday content, little flowers, little grass, cats and dogs, weather, and scenery.

Hu Yi's posts were filled with many reflections and sighs, showing a more mature mindset.

Xue Chengsong shared the joy of gradually participating in company affairs, occasionally showing off, like posing behind his dad's big office desk, pretending to sign documents.

Rao Mingxian recently posted photos of Mount Everest, accompanied by a poem.

"Thousands of burdens of snow press the pine, yet it never bends. The new thunder removes the old disguise, the spring colors I grasp first."

Zhou Leng searched online but found no source; it turned out that Rao Mingxian wrote it himself, surprisingly talented.

It might be due to this year's Rao Family reunion, his status improved, bringing honor to Principal Rao, clearing away past shadows, and making him proud.

Finally, he saw nine photos on Zhang Xinglie's social media, along with some literary New Year greetings.

Unfamiliar words appeared that had never been seen in his social media posts before, like beautiful, companion, warmth...

Something's off!

Zhou Leng's eyes sparkled, turning into a detective, downloading photos, observing them repeatedly.

In three of Zhang Xinglie's nine images, a red corner or sleeve appeared, obviously the same person accompanied Zhang Xinglie.

Satisfied, Zhou Leng nodded, put away his Demonized Watch, and went to sleep.

The next morning, Zhou Leng bought some fruit gifts and headed towards Xu Qingjin's house.

After lunch, Zhou Leng and Xu Qingjin went out, together shopping at the mall, walking through the market, and watching a movie.

They stopped by the snack street for a hearty meal.

On the way home, Zhou Leng talked about some of his military experiences and mentioned his entry into the Ancient River Ruins, but didn't divulge classified details.

"Your experiences are truly rich. But, always remember to protect yourself," Xu Qingjin said.

"Of course. What have you been up to these days?"

"I hung out with Hu Lili and accompanied Cao Jiajia to the mall. I didn't attend the class reunion later."

"Why not?"

"Didn't feel like it," Xu Qingjin smiled lightly, without explaining further.

"Let's go to the amusement park tomorrow."

"Sure!" Xu Qingjin agreed without a second thought.

After taking Xu Qingjin home, Zhou Leng messaged in the group chat with Hu Yi and Feng Wenhao.

"No time tomorrow, are you free the day after tomorrow?"

When Zhou Leng was outside West Sea Demon City, Hu Yi had been planning a get-together, but it was only now that Zhou Leng saw it.

"Didn't you say you just got back from the military and needed rest? Are we not worthy of your rest?" Feng Wenhao asked.

Hu Yi followed up: "Unless you give a reasonable explanation, we're not convinced!"

"I have plans with Xu Qingjin tomorrow too."

"Also?" Feng Wenhao asked.

"Plans?" Hu Yi asked.

Then, the two of them spammed the group with various mocking images, accusing him of favoring his romantic interest over friends.

Zhou Leng closed the chat and dove into the Fierce Beast World, wishing Elder Tree a late New Year, and headed toward Mammoth Lake.

To heal the subtle injuries hidden within his body, he needed a soak in Mammoth Lake.

The general medicinal bath powder had run out these days, so he could use Mammoth Bone Powder.

As he reached the lake, Huang and Xiaoba joyfully ran over, rubbing against and playing with him, running and jumping around.

It had been more than a month since they last met.

Zhou Leng glanced at Xiaoba; this fierce creature had grown at least a meter taller in the month they hadn't seen each other, its aura even more intense.

It was in no way inferior to those Innate Mammoths.

After playing around for a while, the three of them entered Mammoth Lake for a bath.

Zhou Leng floated on the lake, comfortably falling asleep and having a beautiful dream.

Walking out of Mammoth Lake, martial arts perceives the whole body.

The minor injuries accumulated from battle, swept away completely.

These minor injuries may seem trivial, but if not treated promptly, they could either slow down growth or cause permanent damage to the body, making recovery difficult.

Draw water, add homemade medicinal bath powder mainly composed of mammoth bone powder, once boiling, sit within it.

As it bubbles and boils, Zhou Leng's brows relax, his whole body unwinding.

Soon, Zhou Leng frowns slightly.

A faint tingling sensation comes from the skin.

Slowly, a clear force enters the physical body through the skin.

The previous medicinal bath powder was like fine rain, nourishing silently.

This time the medicinal bath powder, however, is like a torrential downpour, landing like stones.

In martial arts perception, threads of force flow into the body, slowly being absorbed by it.

Zhou Leng knew the mammoth bone powder was powerful, but he didn't expect it to be this strong.

Soon, his entire body was filled with immense force.

When the power of the medicinal bath powder was exhausted, Zhou Leng suddenly stood up and jumped out of the bath barrel.

Previously, the medicinal bath only made the whole body lightly red like pink.

This time, the whole body was completely red, as if roasted.

The water on his body did not form droplets nor fall, but rather remained like a thin film covering him.

The absorbed water formed a garment.

The power within his body surged, even absorbing the water.

Zhou Leng immediately bent over, assuming the stance of the first form of the "Establishing Image Chapter".

Huang and Xiaoba's eyes lit up, following to learn.

Second form, third form, fourth form…

Finally, breaking through the eighth form, reaching the third cycle of the ninth form.

Achieving a new record once again.

"Whew…"

Zhou Leng exhaled, slowly rising.

The redness of his skin faded, returning to normal.

This time, although reaching the body's limit, he wasn't drenched in sweat, and the fatigue was not as intense.

It seems there is a subtle reaction between mammoth bone powder and "Ten Reversed Beast Fist".

Just as Zhou Leng was pondering, he heard a series of thuds beside his ear.

He turned his head to look.

A string of medicinal fruits and herbs dropped from Xiaoba's nose, piled into a small heap.

There were fruits previously consumed and some unknown ones.

Xiaoba then swung its nose, gesturing and humming the general effects of these medicinal fruits.

Suddenly Huang stuck out its tongue, flipped its eyes, fell to the ground, and convulsed.

Then it trembled as it rose, pointed at a green fruit, then pointed at its own mouth, and looked at Zhou Leng.

"Is this for detoxification?"

Huang nodded repeatedly.

Then, suddenly folded its left foreleg, making it look broken, pointing at a dark red fruit.

"For wound treatment?" Huang shook its head.

"Treating fractures?" Huang nodded.

Zhou Leng, half guessing, slowly categorized them.

"Is this for healing?"

"This seems useless for fierce beasts but might be useful for humans?"

"This is poisonous, but if survived, one gains benefits?"

"This strengthens muscles?"

Zhou Leng classified many items then took photos for records and identified them through the database.

Most couldn't be identified, so Zhou Leng named them himself, including something like Huang Number Two, Xiaoba Number Three, and so on.

Bid farewell to Xiaoba, returned under the Frost Giant Tree, placed the items on the ground.

"Huang, help me categorize which can be eaten now, which can be eaten at the Vitality Stage, and which can be eaten after reaching the Innate level."

Huang looked up at the Frost Giant Tree, then chuckled, extending its paw, began sorting various medicinal fruits and herbs.

A small portion can be eaten at the Body Refining Stage, most are for the Vitality Stage, and only a few can be eaten at the Innate level.

Zhou Leng marked again on the database, then further packed them separately.

Halfway through packing, Huang pulled out an orange medicinal fruit shaped like a tangerine, pressed it with its small paw.

After finishing sorting, Zhou Leng looked at the orange medicinal fruit.

This fruit had been recognized by Xiaoba as potentially useless for fierce beasts but beneficial for humans.

"Do you want this Huang Tangerine?"

Huang shook its head.

"Is it very special?"

Huang nodded.

"Is it very important?"

Huang nodded again.

Zhou Leng said, "You mean I should eat more of this Huang Tangerine?"

Huang nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, I'll take it to Xiaoba, ask it to help me gather more if it's not too difficult."

Huang dashed towards Mammoth Lake.

Zhou Leng picked up the Huang Tangerine and followed, found Xiaoba, Huang barked explaining the purpose.

Xiaoba hesitated for a moment, communicated with Huang, then nodded and swung its nose, indicating no problem.

"What?" Zhou Leng asked.

Huang barked, Zhou Leng guessed, soon Huang nodded repeatedly.

That place was where the territories of Eight-toothed Mammoth and another fierce beast overlap.

That fierce beast's power is weaker than the Eight-toothed Mammoth, doesn't dare to kill it but may occasionally burst into battle.

Xiaoba assured, with its presence, even if the battle is lost, they could escape.

If escape is impossible, it could summon its kin for help.

Zhou Leng looked at the Huang Tangerine in his hand.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.