Ambush

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Author: Dali Bao

Translator: MythicWeaver

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The next day's finals, Su Hao no longer paid attention to them. Instead, he focused on optimizing the "radar" function. For familiar friends, he added a green ring; for strangers, a gray ring; and for enemies, he marked them in blood red, and so on.

After several days of integration, the network formed by his perception rune began to take effect slowly. Not only did his basic perception range increase to 200 meters, but he also mastered the method to control the "radar" perception.

He could control the flow of blood energy within the rune along a specific route to enhance the perception range. Through experimentation, with his current strength, at full power, he could sense blood energy up to a distance of 1000 meters. Of course, the further the distance, the blurrier the perception.

Once Su Hao no longer actively controlled the blood energy, the perception range reverted to the basic 200 meters.

"I made the right choice. This is a life-saving skill! With this, my survival ability will greatly improve!"

However, Su Hao was really coveting the beast runes collected on the third floor of the Rising Clouds Library. He wanted to record them all into the system for research. But there was a seemingly clueless old man guarding there year-round, making it impossible to sneak in without being noticed and glance at each rune. Moreover, he didn't want to conflict with the academy staff.

The reason he coveted other runes was that he always had a question: why could runes produce such peculiar effects? What secrets were hidden within their complex structures?

Without understanding this, it was like having a hand constantly scratching his heart, making him restless.

Although he now had a perception rune, he couldn't extract any useful information from the complex lines.

"I still need to record more runes. As long as the sample data is sufficient, I will definitely uncover the hidden secrets within."

Su Hao firmly believed that no matter how mysterious the runes were, they would follow some cosmic rules and laws; the special effects wouldn't arise without reason. As long as he kept learning new knowledge, he would one day solve the mystery.

Su Hao first checked his remaining money: two gold coins and 35 silver coins.

Then he left the academy and wandered around the streets of Rising Clouds Town.

Thinking of Wu Yuntian's already very worn-out single clothes and coat, which leaked air every winter and looked cold, he first went to the clothing store to pick out two sets of clothes according to Wu Yuntian's size. One set for summer and one for winter.

He chose good ones, spending a total of 20 silver coins.

After thinking for a while, he also bought a quilt, spending another ten silver coins.

Then he went to the weapon shop to purchase some maintenance oils and repair tools for weapons and armor, spending 35 silver coins.

Finally, he replenished many cooking spices and salt, plus a barrel of fruit wine, spending ten silver coins.

In total, he spent 75 silver coins.

When he returned to the martial artist academy, the huge package on his back was almost three times his body size.

...

The next day, after Su Hao got everything ready, he carried a giant package and met up with Xiaopang and He Qingqing outside He Qingqing's dormitory.

Xiaopang and He Qingqing were both shocked to see Su Hao's enormous package. Xiaopang exclaimed, "Xiangwu, what's in there? Moving house?"

Xiaopang and He Qingqing's packages were not small, but compared to Su Hao's, the difference was obvious.

He Qingqing said, "Xiangwu, is your package heavy? I don't have much stuff; I can help you carry some."

Su Hao adjusted the package and smiled, "No need, it's just some daily necessities for my father. This weight is nothing."

The weight of the package was indeed insignificant to Su Hao. He could even run a few laps around Rising Clouds Town with it without breaking a sweat.

Xiaopang immediately looked troubled, "I forgot to bring a gift for my dad. What should I do?"

He Qingqing also looked worried, "I forgot too..."

Su Hao said, "It's okay. These are just household items, not gifts. Let's go!"

The three of them walked to the academy gate together and immediately saw He Jianyong and Old Li waiting outside, smiling and waving.

But to Su Hao's surprise, he saw a familiar figure.

"Father?"

It was Wu Yuntian. He thought Wu Yuntian wouldn't come.

"Dad!"

He Qingqing cheered and ran to He Jianyong, grabbing his arm.

He Jianyong looked lovingly at his grown-up daughter and sighed. She had become more reserved. A few years ago, she would have jumped up and hung around his neck.

He Jianyong took He Qingqing's package and said, "Qingqing, you've grown quite a bit!"

Xiaopang looked shy and walked proudly to Old Li, saying, "Dad, do you see any difference in me?"

Old Li slapped Xiaopang's head and took the package, laughing, "What difference? You're still my son!"

Xiaopang was anxious, "Can't you see? I'm already a middle-rank martial artist!"

Then he got another slap from his dad.

On Su Hao's side, things were relatively calm.

Su Hao walked up happily and said, "Father, how has this year been?"

Wu Yuntian, still with his indifferent look, carefully examined Su Hao, who stood spiritedly in front of him. Satisfied, he nodded, "Not bad."

Then he reached out to take Su Hao's giant package.

Su Hao quickly stepped aside and said, "No need, I can carry it myself. It's just some bedding, not heavy."

Wu Yuntian nodded.

Seeing Su Hao carrying his package, He Qingqing quickly took her package from He Jianyong and said, "Dad, give my package back. I'll carry it myself!"

Xiaopang, feeling embarrassed, scratched his head and said, "Dad, I'll carry mine too!"

Su Hao was speechless. Even carrying packages turned into a competition. The human world was indeed equally terrifying. He Jianyong looked at his empty hands and shook his head at Old Li and Wu Yuntian, saying, "Let's go!"

The six of them left the city gate, took a look back at the towering city wall, and without further delay, headed towards Cha Mountain Post along a small path.

As they gradually moved away from Rising Clouds Town, the three warriors immediately heightened their vigilance, wary of any potential beast attacks.

Although this was still within the range of Rising Clouds Town, elite-level beasts occasionally roamed nearby, often attacking and killing ordinary people.

Suddenly, Su Hao frowned. The "radar" showed ten unfamiliar blood energies 200 meters ahead, located on both sides of the road, motionless.

Something was wrong; not all were strangers. Two of them had been recorded before.

Su Hao quickly reviewed the information: one was Dan Sui, a middle-rank martial artist, and the other was a passerby he met outside the academy, a high-rank elite martial artist.

They were here for him!

A month ago, he had blown up Dan Sui's knee cap. Now, they were here for revenge, planning to ambush him in the wilderness.

Su Hao quickly checked the other eight people's information, all high-rank elite martial artists.

"What should I do?" Su Hao slowed his pace, contemplating a strategy.

If it were just him, he could simply charge ahead, dealing with them one by one. But now, with Xiaopang and He Qingqing, who couldn't protect themselves, it became tricky.

They wouldn't survive an attack from high-rank elite martial artists.

He could fight and kill, but simultaneously protecting Xiaopang and He Qingqing was uncertain given his current combat experience.

Wu Yuntian noticed Su Hao's unusual behavior and turned to ask, "What's wrong, Xiangwu?"