The next day at noon, Qin Yang arrived at an abandoned factory.
In the middle of a field littered with rubble, an elliptical orb of light floated, emitting ripples. This was the entrance to the secret realm. Small groups of professionals shouted out party recruitment information, but compared to the entrances of popular secret realms, this place was desolate.
The data on the secret realm had already stated that the Mother Insect Forest was highly dangerous. Most new professionals wouldn't choose this realm to start their journey.
This wasn't a game—death was permanent. Even a small injury or a little poison could be fatal to a professional.
The danger of the Mother Insect Forest lay in the corrosive toxins carried by the insects. Qin Yang, however, wasn't worried. Those insects wouldn't get the chance to approach him.
As he neared the entrance to the secret realm, he immediately initiated the teleportation.
***
[Entering the Mother Insect Forest...]
[Party: 1 person.]
[Can cancel within 10 seconds.]
[10, 9, 8, 7...]
The countdown ended, and Qin Yang turned into a streak of white light, vanishing on the spot.
The surrounding professionals were astonished.
"He... just went in like that?"
"Judging by his equipment, he must be a newbie who just awakened..."
"Hey, what kind of vocational academy teaches this? Is the Mother Insect Forest a place for newbies?"
The professionals outside the Mother Insect Forest discussed among themselves. They were all material farmers who camped here long-term and had seen many reckless newbies come to challenge themselves. Apart from a few exceptionally powerful geniuses, most didn't end well. They either suffered from corrosive toxins, leaving behind horrifying, irreversible scars, or died inside, becoming nutrients for the mother insect.
In short, the Mother Insect Forest was nominally a beginner's secret realm but was actually a graveyard for newbies. If it weren't for the high-value material "Mother Insect Toxin Gland" it produced, even professional farmers wouldn't want to visit this secret realm.
As the professionals chatted, someone recognized Qin Yang.
"Oh my god! Someone should have stopped him! That's Qin Yang! He just awakened his vocation yesterday—how dare he enter the Mother Insect Forest alone?"
"He's Qin Chuan's son?"
"Yeah, the most devoted man in Hongwu, a walking pile driver."
"If he dies in the Mother Insect Forest, that would be huge news—a hidden vocation holder dying in a beginner's secret realm..."
"Why can't you just wish him well? Did the Longge Guild owe you your daily wages?"
"Why should I wish him well? Can he give me half of the Qin family's fortune? If not, I'd rather watch the show."
"Are you crazy? You dare say that? Aren't you afraid of the Longge Guild hearing you?!"
"Ah! I was just talking... You guys didn't record me, right?"
"Who's your brother? Who are you? Stay away from us!"
While they were chatting, Qin Yang had already entered the secret realm.
Instantly, a strong stench assaulted his senses. The dense forest appeared dark and decayed, with thick liquid dripping from the branches and green fungal mats covering the ground. Standing on the fungal mat, Qin Yang could feel it writhing, as if the entire forest had merged with the insects.
Not far away, several giant eggs stacked together pulsed and contracted like diseased cysts. Through the thin, vein-covered membrane, he could see the larvae wriggling in the amniotic fluid.
Shudder...
Qin Yang instinctively trembled. His slight germaphobia made him feel physically uncomfortable.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Suddenly, the sound of bursting bubbles echoed. More than a dozen eggs ruptured, and the larvae inside wriggled their slimy bodies free from the thick amniotic fluid, making a nauseating chewing sound as if devouring something.
Qin Yang felt like he was about to crack.
This secret realm...
Who on earth farmed here? Who could farm here?
If it weren't for Annihilate the Nine Clans being the perfect counter to these insects, he would never have set foot in this place!
At that moment, the larvae emitted a sound like an infant's wail, mixed with continuous cracking noises, creating a terrifying and grating melody.
Qin Yang could no longer endure it.
He locked onto a larva and activated his skill.
***
[Larva (Level 1), nine clans totaling 39,521, 39,521 locked. Highest level among them: 5. Requires 257 Imperial Authority.]
"Die for me!"
Without a moment's hesitation.
Nine Clans Severance—Activated!
The next second, the slimy larvae began to rapidly disintegrate. Their bodies broke down at a visible speed, turning into wisps of dust that floated into the air.
One wisp, two wisps, three wisps...
Not just the larvae near Qin Yang—every insect in the entire forest dissolved into countless strands of smoke. It was as if an invisible wildfire was consuming every insect in the forest.
The rising smoke resembled spectral mist, drifting unpredictably. As light filtered through the particles, it created a dreamy Tyndall effect. Within the glowing haze, the entire forest seemed to undergo a purification, the decaying scenery vanishing, replaced by clean and refreshing air.
Qin Yang felt much better, as if he had been healed.
Then, a flood of notifications appeared before his eyes:
***
[You have slain a Level 1 Highly Toxic Larva!]
[Experience +1.]
[You have slain a Level 1 Lesser Leaping Insect!]
[Experience +12.]
[You have slain a Level 2 Spined Armored Insect!]
[Experience +24.]
[You have slain a Level 3 Sky Blade Insect!]
[Experience +48.]
[You have slain a Level 5 Diseased Mother Insect (Boss)!]
[Experience +480.]
***
[Your level has increased to 2.]
[All attributes +2.]
[You have gained 5 free attribute points.]
[Your level has increased to 3.]
[Your level has increased to 4.]
[Your level has increased to 5.]
[Your level has increased to 6.]
[Your level has increased to 7.]
[Your level has increased to 8.]
[Your level has increased to 9.]
[All attributes +2.]
[You have gained 5 free attribute points.]
[Unlocked vocation skill: See Me as Heaven.]
[Unlocked vocation skill: Divine Armament.]
[Unlocked vocation skill: Imperial Guard.]
***
[You have cleared the Mother Insect Forest.]
[Clear time: 1 minute and 12 seconds.]
[Reward: Level 5 Bronze Treasure Chest.]
[You have achieved a speedrun!]
[Reward: Level 5 Silver Treasure Chest.]
[You have broken the Mother Insect Forest clear record!]
[Achievement reward: Insect Bane Lv1 (All base attributes +5, damage against insect-type enemies increased by 10%).]
[Reward: Level 5 Gold Treasure Chest.]
As the notifications flooded his vision, Qin Yang was bathed in the golden glow of leveling up. His strength, agility, constitution, and spirit soared. His free attribute points accumulated to 40. On top of that, the achievement bonus granted him an additional +5 to all attributes.
In this single wave, he gained a total of 124 attribute points!
Qin Yang spread his arms, reveling in the moment.
This... this was what cheating felt like?
It was too good!
After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes. Not only had he jumped straight to level 9, but he had also unlocked three new vocation skills.