FLAP, FLAP, FLAP...

Unaware of what was happening, the ordinary birds chirped as they flapped their wings and took flight, quickly fleeing into the distance.

...

On the Mysterious Small Island, shrouded in a vast white mist, a figure materialized out of thin air in the very center.

Upon entering the Mysterious Small Island, Lin Li immediately turned to look at the small tree growing in its center—a tree that appeared ordinary yet was unbelievably magical.

More than a month had passed since Lin Li began hunting Mutant Beasts. Having absorbed the flesh and blood of many such creatures, the Magical Little Tree seemed to have grown a tiny bit taller than before.

Although the Magical Little Tree had grown a little, its overall appearance hadn’t changed much.

Well... the fact that the Magical Little Tree had grown taller wasn’t what Lin Li should be focused on right now.

At this moment, Lin Li’s full attention was captivated by a small, snow-white fruit growing on the Magical Little Tree. It was about half the size of an egg.

’White!!!’

Seeing this newly grown fruit on the Magical Little Tree, a different color from all the Magical Little Fruits that had come before, Lin Li knew it wouldn’t be long before he obtained a new Superpower.

"Hahaha... I’ve already awakened two Superpowers. Soon, I’ll be awakening a third one.

As far as I know, I’ve never heard of a single Cultivator awakening three Superpowers. Of course, it’s possible I’m just out of the loop."

Lin Li gazed at the new, half-egg-sized white fruit on the ordinary-looking Magical Little Tree, the corners of his mouth curling up uncontrollably as an expression of pure joy spread across his face.

With a thought, a piece of information materialized in his mind... Current progress: eighty percent.

’Holy cow, the progress was only at eleven percent, but because of that lucky score just now, it shot straight up to eighty percent.

Now I just need to spend another two or three days to get it to one hundred percent... Hahaha... A third Superpower! I’m about to awaken my third Superpower... What kind will it be? I can’t wait!’

Overjoyed, Lin Li let out a hearty laugh. On the quiet Mysterious Small Island, his unrestrained laughter echoed everywhere.

...

「The sun began to set.」

As dusk quietly enveloped the city and the crimson sunset vanished, the city’s nightlife slowly began to stir in the darkness.

Lights of all colors began to illuminate the city’s various districts.

Beneath the brilliant, colorful lights, the sounds of pedestrians and passing cars intertwined, making the whole city feel extraordinarily lively.

「8:00 PM.」

A van turned a distant corner and drove slowly onto a street lined with bars of vastly different styles.

"In two hundred meters..." the pleasant voice of the phone’s navigation announced, guiding Lin Li, who was driving the van.

SCREECH.

Lin Li parked the van in a spot by the side of the road. He then exited the navigation app and put his phone away.

CLICK... THUD.

After getting out, he glanced up at the bar in front of him, named ’Night.’ He then checked the address number to confirm he was in the right place before walking toward it.

After Lin Li went into the bar, some passersby happened to notice the van parked by the street. It stood out conspicuously among a row of luxury sedans, and they couldn’t help but chuckle.

...

"Sir, excuse me. Please show me your ID," a security guard in black stopped Lin Li as he approached the entrance.

"Why do I need to show my ID to get in here?" Lin Li asked with a frown.

"To prevent minors from entering," the security guard stated concisely.

"..." Lin Li was speechless. ’Do I really look like a minor?’

The security guard was just doing his job; checking IDs was part of his duties. There was no need to argue with him over something so trivial.

Lin Li complained internally about the guard but took out his ID from his pocket and handed it over.

"Please, go in." The guard glanced at the ID, compared the photo to Lin Li’s face, and handed it back before gesturing for him to enter.

Lin Li put his ID away and walked through the entrance. He went down a hallway and arrived at a closed door at the end.

CLICK.

He pushed the door open. A wave of deafening music instantly flooded out from the opening, overwhelming him.

’Sigh... I’m still not used to places like this. No matter what, I’m not coming back next time.’

Lin Li watched the flashing, multicolored lights inside the bar. Men and women were chatting, laughing, and playfully roughhousing to the pounding music. He couldn’t help but raise a hand to rub his temples.

Compared to a noisy place like this, he preferred the perilous yet quiet wilderness.

THUD.

He stepped forward, walked inside, and shut the door behind him.

As he entered the noisy bar, a few people glanced in his direction.

However, while Lin Li had delicate features and a well-proportioned figure—making him rather handsome—he was dressed in ordinary, inexpensive clothes. The gazes that fell on him quickly moved on to other things after a single look.

BOOM, CHK, BOOM, CHK...

The loud music continuously pounded in his ears. If he had a choice, he would have turned around and left right then and there.

His eyes scanned the dimly lit bar, searching for Zhang Dawei and the others.

"Lin Li, over here..."

Lin Li scanned the area but couldn’t find Zhang Dawei’s group. Just as he was about to pull out his phone to call and ask where they were, a figure to his front right stood up from a seat and waved at him.

The person waving at him was none other than Zhang Dawei, the organizer of this get-together.

Today, Zhang Dawei was wearing a very conspicuous floral shirt. He normally wouldn’t wear something so flashy, so it was clear he had dressed up specially for the occasion.

"We agreed on eight-thirty, but it’s only eight-ten now. I thought I was early, but I didn’t expect you all to be here already."

Zhang Dawei shifted to the side to make room, and Lin Li sat down next to him.

"Well, none of us had anything else to do after work and dinner, so we just came early," said Li Lin, who currently worked at a cosmetics company, with a smile.

"You’re the last one to arrive again. According to the old rule, that’s a penalty drink," Zhang Dawei said, grabbing an empty glass and pouring Lin Li a drink.

"..." Lin Li looked at his old classmate as he placed the full glass of alcohol in front of him. He replied helplessly,

"I may be the last one here, but I still arrived before the agreed-upon time! I’m not even late..."

"Just drink it, Lin Li! It has nothing to do with being late. The rule is the last person to arrive has to take a penalty drink."

Feeling a little warm, Li Lin unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, revealing a flash of pale skin. She smiled as she urged him to drink.

"Li Lin’s right! Just drink up! If you’re a man, don’t dilly-dally. It’s just one drink, it’s not going to kill you..." said Zeng Zhixian, who worked in real estate, clearly enjoying Lin Li’s predicament.

Wang Kai and Liu Yanmin smiled without saying anything, but it was clear from their expressions that they also supported the idea of Lin Li drinking the penalty shot.

"You guys! You’re all ganging up on me..." Lin Li joked, seeing all his old classmates waiting for him to down the drink.

Then, without further protest, he picked up the glass and drained it in one gulp.

...