Translator: AnubisTL
"That's nonsense," the child protested.
Scar Dog's expression turned serious. "Son, you need to believe in yourself. You chose correctly. Mali Ge Peak is indeed the highest peak on Nisla Star!"
"You're right, and your teacher was wrong."
"Really?" The six- or seven-year-old asked, his voice uncertain.
"Of course." Scar Dog patted his son's head affectionately, then pulled out a walkie-talkie. "Glary Peak, Lei Sifeng Peak, Scar Snail Peak—bomb all three of them to the ground."
The next moment—
BOOM!!!
A distant explosion shook the ground slightly.
Soon, the nearby television began broadcasting emergency news.
["Attention viewers, we interrupt our regular programming with an urgent bulletin. Moments ago, Glary Peak, Lei Sifeng Peak, and Scar Snail Peak on Nisla Star were completely leveled by an unknown attack!"]
["The cause of the incident is currently under investigation!"]
["And... Mali Ge Peak has now become the highest peak on Nisla Star."]
"See?" Scar Dog pointed at the news report, his face beaming with satisfaction. "Didn't I tell you, son? Mali Ge Peak is the highest peak on Nisla Star. You weren't wrong at all—your teacher just got it wrong."
"Come on, let's cross out this 'X' and replace it with a checkmark. Then we'll add two points back for you, son."
"Now, let's look at the second question you got wrong."
"Question 2: How many continental plates are there on Nisla Star?"
"A: One"
"B: Two"
"C: Three"
"D: Four"
"You chose D, son? You really think there are four continental plates on Nisla Star?"
"Mhm."
The six- or seven-year-old child said with a hint of grievance, "I thought there should be four continental plates, but our teacher insisted there were only three."
"Your teacher's wrong again," Scar Dog said sternly. "There are clearly four continental plates on Nisla Star. Don't believe me? Just watch the news!"
Just then, a breaking news bulletin flashed across the television screen:
["We interrupt this program with an urgent news update. Suspected to be the result of a dimensional strike by an advanced civilization, a laser beam nearly a kilometer wide descended from the sky moments ago, splitting the Northern Continental Plate in two. Seawater has flooded the newly formed chasm. As of now, Nisla Star officially has four continental plates."]
["Attention all citizens: remain vigilant—wait, scratch that. With an attack of this magnitude, there's no point in being vigilant. Just carry on as usual and pretend nothing happened."]
"See?" Scar Dog pointed triumphantly at the television screen. "Didn't I tell you you weren't wrong?"
"Wow, you're right!"
The six- or seven-year-old child jumped up, his face flushed with excitement. "I knew it! Dad, you're so smart! I'm your son, how could I be so dumb? It's all our teacher's fault for teaching it wrong!"
"That's right, exactly!"
"Your teacher marked this question wrong. I'll add two points for you. Come on, get one more right, and my precious son will pass!"
"Let's take a look at the next question you got wrong, my dear."
"Hmm, let me see... The question is: How many basins are there on Nisla Star?"
"The options are: 4, 7, 9, 12 basins."
"Son, why didn't you choose any of them?"
The child pouted, "Because I don't think any of them are right. I think there should be at least 1,000 basins!"
"Then how many basins do you think there are exactly, son?"
"Hmm..."
After a moment of thought, the child hesitated, chewing on his fingernail, "Maybe 1,678?"
"Correct!"
Scar Dog patted his child's head with satisfaction. "Exactly 1,678! You're so smart, son."
The next second—
[Breaking News: Nisla Star has simultaneously come under massive, unidentified attacks. These attacks have created 1,671 new basins on the planet. Nisla Star now has a total of 1,678 basins.]
"See, son, you were right! There are exactly 1,678."
"Come on, add two more points. Look, now you've passed!"
"Wow, really?!"
The six- or seven-year-old boy leaped into the air with joy, his earlier dejection vanishing instantly. He threw himself into Scar Dog's arms. "Dad, you're so smart! You're way smarter than our teacher!"
"Of course I am," Scar Dog boasted smugly.
Just then, the woman emerged from the kitchen, glaring at Scar Dog with mild reproach. "Is this how you're helping him with his mistakes?"
"What else?" Scar Dog shot her a sideways glance. "Just tell me, did I fix it right?"
"Remember this—"
"Your Scar Dog always finds a way."
"Come on, son, let's keep fixing these mistakes. We're going to get this test to a perfect score!"
"Yeah!"
Suddenly, a voice rang in his ear: "Scar Dog, Scar Dog?"
"Wake up! Wake up!"
"What the hell are you possessed?!"
"Who's there?!"
Scar Dog immediately stood up, his face alert as he scanned his surroundings. But the scene before him began to fade rapidly, blurring until he found himself back beneath the world tree.
"Huh?"
A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes as he stared blankly at Brother Jiang and the others. After a moment of stunned silence, he realized he had been trapped in a vision within his own mind.
Wiping the drool that had inexplicably dribbled from his mouth, he grabbed Li Hao with fervent urgency. "Choose the third one! Pick the third enhancement entry—real-time updates!"
"This concerns my son's education!"
"We must start addressing our children's development from a young age!"
"We can't let him fall behind at the starting line!"
"Without this enhancement entry, how will I ever tutor my son in his studies?"
"..."
Li Hao stared blankly at the agitated Scar Dog, unsure how to react. Scar Dog seemed to be in an unusually emotional state.
"What's wrong with you?"
Chen Jiang frowned at Scar Dog. "We've already made our choice. The third enhancement entry is updating in real-time. What are you talking about?"
"What's with all this talk about education? Not wanting kids to lose at the starting line?"
"Scar Dog, are you okay? Did some player ambush you during that event earlier?"
"I'm fine, Brother Jiang."
Hearing that the third entry had been confirmed, Scar Dog finally relaxed, releasing Li Hao's arm and grinning. He waved his hand dismissively. "No problem, no problem. I just spaced out for a moment, thinking about some random stuff."
"By the way, Brother Jiang, when are you getting married?"
"..."
Chen Jiang remained expressionless for a long moment before finally saying quietly, "Scar Dog, did something happen to you?"
"No, no."
"Come with me."
"Uh, okay, Brother Jiang."
Chen Jiang led Scar Dog to a secluded spot, paused, then pulled a pack of cigarettes from Scar Dog's pocket. He took one out and offered it to Scar Dog. "Here, have a smoke."
"Ah? Oh, okay."
Scar Dog lit the cigarette and stuck it in his mouth, casually remarking, "Brother Jiang, where did you learn this habit of snatching cigarettes from people and offering them around?"
"Stop being so cheeky," Chen Jiang retorted, slightly exasperated. After a pause, he continued, "That Innate Ability Enhancement Token should go to Li Hao. It'll be most effective with him. Our biggest limitation right now is the map's limited range."
"If we could extend that range, our mobility would increase dramatically."
"Even though we've chosen real-time updates instead of increased range, it's still a huge boost. We can keep the world tree constantly traveling around the globe, mapping as we go."
"Everywhere we map, the movement patterns of alien race players will be updated on the map in real time. Then, with your phantom gate, Scar Dog, we can launch real-time strikes. We could wipe out all the alien races in the Ten Thousand Races Arena in just two months—maybe even one."
"You know, our greatest crisis will come after the Ten Thousand Races Arena ends."
"That's why we must seize all the resources from the Ten Thousand Races Arena to strengthen ourselves. Only then will we have the confidence to face what comes after the arena ends."
"Uh..." Scar Dog said, sounding puzzled. "Brother Jiang, I know that. Is there some deeper meaning I'm missing?"
Chen Jiang remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "What I mean is, the next Innate Ability Enhancement Token is yours."
"Hey!" Scar Dog suddenly realized what Chen Jiang was getting at, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. "I thought you were going to say something serious! Brother Jiang, we don't need to talk about stuff like this between us."
"It's kind of awkward to say it out loud."
"We're not women, we don't need to get all emotional about this."
"We're men. Talking about this stuff is just weird."
"Alright, then. Brother Jiang, I'm gonna head out now."
With that, Scar Dog fled the scene as if his life depended on it.
Left alone, Chen Jiang looked visibly awkward. Talking about such things between two men was indeed awkward, but Scar Dog was his closest companion. Giving the good stuff to Li Hao instead of Scar Dog was bound to create some resentment.
Though awkward, it was better to clear the air now to prevent future misunderstandings.
He shook his head and strode resolutely toward the tree trunk.
He planned to rest in the treehouse for a while; he was genuinely tired.
The main reward for this operation was a Three-Star Item Innate Ability Enhancement Token.
As the Captain, his choice was the three-star item.
Scar Dog and the others had to choose from three two-star items, a decision he didn't bother to oversee.
After all, two-star items held little interest for him anymore.
No matter how powerful, a two-star item couldn't be truly exceptional.
Except, of course, for his own two-star item: the Steel Sword Autonomous Rotating Turret.
As Chen Jiang retreated to the treehouse to rest, order returned to the base of the world tree.
The water-cooled air conditioning resumed operation, filling the area with a bone-chilling cold.
Wang Defa remained tirelessly by the side, enthusiastically punching the mutated beasts that continued to fall from the steel pipe. Punch, punch, punch.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ritian, Li Hao, and Scar Dog gathered to discuss their new perpetual motion machine project.
"Oh, right," Scar Dog suddenly remembered something, looking up at Li Hao and Zhao Ritian. "I suddenly feel like I've forgotten something important. Do you guys remember?"
"Forgotten something?" Li Hao frowned, thinking for a moment. "I don't recall anything we were supposed to do."
Scar Dog frowned in contemplation. Then, a spark of realization flashed in his eyes. He stood up, pulled a shotgun from his chest, and strode away. "I did forget something important. I remember now."
Li Hao and Zhao Ritian exchanged puzzled glances before following him.
Soon, Scar Dog reached a patch of earth beneath the world tree. He gazed down at the woman buried up to her neck in the soil, licked his lips, and clicked his tongue. "Almost forgot about you."
This was the woman who had approached them with ulterior motives.
Though they still didn't know exactly how the woman harbored ill intentions, it no longer mattered. In the wilderness, merely sensing someone's malicious intent was enough.
The woman's mental state was dire. Her lips were cracked and dry, her face deathly pale, and her voice hoarse as she lifted her head to look at Scar Dog. "I..."
"What about you?" Scar Dog glanced dismissively at the woman, immediately chambering a round in his shotgun and aiming it at her head, ready to pull the trigger.
They hadn't killed her earlier because they feared she might resurrect at her location from 24 hours prior, allowing her to return later. Burying her here ensured that even if she resurrected, she would still be trapped in this spot.
Now, more than 24 hours had passed, though they had forgotten about it.
Remembering now, they naturally had to deal with her.
Keeping such a dangerous person around always made them uneasy.
But just then—
Scar Dog suddenly frowned and paused. "Show me your talent panel."
"Alright."
The woman, who had been on the verge of despair, suddenly saw a glimmer of hope ignite in her eyes. An opportunity had arrived!
Her true innate ability was Mantis!
[Talent Name: Mantis]
[Talent Effect: After combining with a human male, you can strip him of his personal innate ability. The human male will die. Usable once per month.]
[Stripped Innate Ability: Weapon Manifestation]
[Talent Effect: You can manifest a red longsword from thin air. When this sword kills mutated beasts or alien race players, it absorbs a warm current that flows into your body, enhancing your physical attributes.]
[Stripped Innate Ability: Lucky Star]
[Talent Effect: Once per week, you can perform a free lottery draw. The prize pool contains various items.]
[Stripped Innate Ability: Precision Shooting]
[Talent Effect: You possess an extraordinary understanding of firearms. Within a hundred meters, you can hit any target you desire with perfect accuracy.]
The remaining three innate abilities had all been stripped by her. Her only regret now was not stripping a life-saving ability, which had led her to this dire situation!
But it didn't matter. No matter what, an opportunity had finally arrived.
If she could persuade the man before her, she might still have a chance to survive.
(End of the Chapter)
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