The next morning, a faint floral fragrance permeated the air.
At the breakfast table, Su Wu casually remarked, "Oh, by the way, I've already spoken to the school's higher-ups. From today onward, you only need to attend the morning theoretical classes and basic combat demonstrations. You can skip those time-wasting routine training sessions in the afternoon."
Su Yu paused, slightly taken aback. "No afternoon training at school? What am I supposed to do then?"
Su Wu wiped his mouth with a napkin, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Head straight home after school, or I'll send you a location. With your Chaos Body, the school's childish sparring sessions can no longer satisfy you. From now on, I'll personally oversee your afternoon training."
"Personally... special training?" Su Yu stared at his father's unfathomable smile, a chill creeping down his spine. "Alright! I'll do as you say, Dad!"
He knew his father was a super powerhouse in the Martial King Realm. Receiving personal guidance from a Martial King was an opportunity countless others could only dream of.
Six in the morning at Azurewave First High School.
The moment Su Yu stepped through the school gates with his backpack, the usually bustling campus fell silent as if someone had pressed the mute button.
In the past, due to his impoverished background and Wang Tai's bullying, Su Yu had been practically invisible at school, occasionally enduring scornful remarks from snobbish classmates.
But today, everything had changed.
"Look! It's Su Yu!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! Do you want to die? I heard the Wang Family almost got wiped out a few days ago because they crossed him!"
"My god, I never realized he was the son of such a top-tier second-generation elite! They say even the city lord bows to his father..."
Countless gazes, like spotlights, converged on Su Yu.
Some were filled with envy, others with jealousy, but most carried a deep-seated awe.
The students who had once followed Wang Tai like sycophants now cowered, avoiding eye contact with Su Yu, fearing retribution from this "young prince."
Su Yu maintained a calm expression and steady gait.
Having faced death and awakened his martial dao, the childish stares of his peers no longer stirred any emotion within him.
Would an eagle care about the chatter of sparrows? Clearly not.
"Hey, blockhead! You still remember to come to school?"
Just then, a crisp, cheerful voice rang out from behind, shattering the oppressive atmosphere.
Su Yu stopped and turned around.
Xu Lele, wearing a pink backpack and her hair in a high ponytail, came jogging toward him.
The surrounding boys' hearts shattered at the sight, but none dared approach her. To them, Su Yu was now a terrifying figure with a "Keep Away" sign plastered all over him.
"You wouldn't believe it—the school's been buzzing these past few days!" Xu Lele exclaimed, her big eyes sparkling as she reached Su Yu's side. "Everyone's talking about what happened that day. They say your dad is a reclusive martial arts master who crushed that Wang Family bully with a single kick, forcing even the city lord to apologize! Now everyone's calling you 'Young Master Su'!"
"Tch, keep pretending," Xu Lele teased, leaning closer and lowering her voice. "But seriously, are those resources your dad got you really that powerful? I can feel your aura... it seems even deeper than it was in the martial arts hall that day."
As one of the few genuine friends Su Yu had in class, she was keenly aware of his subtle changes.
This transformation wasn't just about increased strength; it was a deeper refinement of his aura, like a sharp blade concealed in its sheath, its edge subtly restrained.
Su Yu recalled the agonizing pain he had endured in the gravity chamber these past few days, a confident glint flashing in his eyes.
"I've definitely improved. If I faced Wang Heng now, I'm confident I could defeat him within three moves."
"Wow!" Xu Lele covered her mouth, her eyes wide with admiration. "Are you serious? Wang Heng is already in the mid-stage of the Qi Blood Realm! But... I believe you! Does that mean you could easily get into top universities like Capital Martial University or Demon Martial University now?"
"Capital Martial University is just one of my goals," Su Yu said, gazing into the distance, his tone calm yet resolute. "My ultimate aim is to become the national champion."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Three days apart, and your arrogance has reached new heights!" Xu Lele scoffed, though a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. "By the way, the first class is a combat simulation. The teacher said we'll be divided into teams for sparring. Want to team up? It'll be a perfect chance to see how strong the future 'national champion' really is."
"Sure, as long as you're not afraid of losing too badly."
"Hmph! We'll see who wins! I haven't been slacking off these past few days either!"
The two continued their banter as they walked toward the teaching building.
Meanwhile,
Dozens of kilometers outside Azurewave Base City, lay the Wilderness Forbidden Zone, a realm where feral beasts roamed unchecked.
The remnants of an old-era highway stretched across the overgrown wasteland like a fractured spine. Collapsed skyscrapers, now entwined with massive vines, served as nests for birds and dens for beasts.
Above this sky teeming with danger and slaughter, a lone figure stood with hands clasped behind his back, treading on empty air.
Su Wu.
He wore unremarkable gray casual attire, yet the fierce gales that buffeted the area parted three feet before him, unable to so much as ruffle the hem of his robe.
A Martial King Realm expert could project their will outward, though only within a one-kilometer radius.
"Strange..." Su Wu murmured, his brow furrowing slightly.
According to established patterns, the 30- to 50-kilometer zone surrounding the base city should have been the most densely populated and active area for low-tier feral beasts.
In the past, this region would have been teeming with wolf packs, herds of mutated wild boars, and even occasional clashes between E-grade and F-grade beasts vying for territory.
Though humanity had ventured into the stars, they had refrained from eradicating Earth's native ecosystems.
This policy served two purposes: preserving biodiversity and, more importantly, maintaining these feral beasts as natural "sharpening stones" to hone generations of martial arts students.
Su Wu scanned the desolate landscape below, finding an unsettling stillness.
Apart from a few scattered Ironhide Boars and Gale Rabbits foraging, the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolves that had once infested the abandoned industrial park were gone. The Ironclad Crocodiles that had haunted the old riverbed had vanished without a trace.
"Too quiet," Su Wu muttered.
He slowly descended, landing atop a fractured bridge.
He could sense a faint, unsettling aura lingering in the air—not the typical scent left by feral beasts, but something more advanced, more organized... a palpable sense of dominance.
"Could a high-tier ferocious beast have passed through, scaring away these lower-level creatures?"
Su Wu crouched down to examine claw marks on the bridge surface.
The marks were fresh, likely made recently. Strangely, they all pointed in the same direction—every creature had migrated toward the same destination.
That direction... was north, away from Azurewave Base City and deep into the Wilderness Forbidden Zone—toward the Death Grand Canyon.
"A mass migration of feral beasts? Or some kind of gathering?"
A glint flashed in Su Wu's eyes.
As a seasoned veteran who had navigated this world for decades, combined with his knowledge from his previous life, he instinctively sensed the stench of conspiracy.
Under normal circumstances, feral beasts would only exhibit such abnormal behavior in two scenarios:
First, when a natural disaster like an earthquake or tsunami was imminent.
Second, when a "beast king"—a creature capable of commanding all beasts—had been born and was rallying its forces!
"If it's the latter, Azurewave City is in for some trouble," Su Wu muttered, rising to his feet and brushing the dust off his hands.
Unlike ordinary people, Su Wu felt no fear. His Martial King Realm strength gave him absolute confidence. His original purpose for venturing out had been to find practical combat opponents for Su Yu.
"Since there aren't any here, I'll venture deeper."
Su Wu's gaze turned north, toward the dense, ancient forests shrouded in dark mist.
"I refuse to believe I can't find a few decent sparring partners."
Before the words had even left his lips, his figure vanished from the spot, leaving behind only a shattered cloud fragment torn apart by the sonic boom.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, he had already appeared ten miles away.
His objective was clear: capture a few peak E-grade or early D-grade feral beasts, transport them to the rear mountains of Cloudtop Manor, and stage a true "wilderness survival" scenario for Su Yu.
As for the threat of a beast tide?
Let the tall ones worry about the sky falling. Su Wu would intervene only when his son's safety was directly threatened.