As Gao Neng was contemplating the upcoming challenges, his gaze fell upon the massive barrel of the Electromagnetic Cannon on the floor.

Huh?!

’If I could use an Electromagnetic Cannon too...’

’Wouldn’t I be able to take out enemies one by one with a single shot?’

"Tangtang, to use this Electromagnetic Cannon, do you only need Iron and Copper talents?" Gao Neng voiced the question on his mind.

"Mm, you also need to be able to resist electricity!" Fang Tangtang nodded.

"Resist electricity?" Gao Neng thought for a moment. ’I think I can do that too.’ "So, how much does the barrel for this Electromagnetic Cannon cost? It shouldn’t be too expensive, right?"

Gao Neng figured that since it was just iron and copper, it couldn’t be that pricey.

"Not expensive. It just has a lot of parts. Copper and iron are the main materials, but to withstand the power of the Electromagnetic Cannon, you still need some alloys. The cost price is probably around fifty million or so," Fang Tangtang nodded.

"..." Gao Neng.

’Over fifty million?!’

’And that’s not expensive?’ 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

’And it’s the damn cost price?!’

Gao Neng stared at the Electromagnetic Cannon barrel on the floor as an idea slowly formed in his mind. ’Maybe I should find a chance to snatch this thing?’

"You want it? I can let you play with it for a few days, but you’ll have to provide your own ammo," Fang Tangtang said, seeming to have read Gao Neng’s mind.

"It needs ammo?" Gao Neng asked, surprised.

"It does. The electromagnetism is just the propulsion; the shells are the real consumable. One shell is about five hundred thousand, give or take. It’s very cheap," Fang Tangtang continued.

"Never mind. I don’t think a skill like the Electromagnetic Cannon is suitable for me." Gao Neng wasn’t flustered in the slightest. He just calmly shook his head, rejecting Fang Tangtang’s kind offer.

’What the hell!’

’Five hundred thousand for one shell?!’

’You’re not firing shells, you’re firing freaking money!’

Just as he was feeling depressed, Gao Neng saw Fang Tangtang grab a handful of Energy Pills and start tossing them into her small mouth as if they were candy.

"..."

’So this is the proper way to eat Energy Pills?’

Gao Neng had calculated it carefully. One Energy Pill could restore about 200 energy points, and Fang Tangtang’s magnetic core was pink, which should max out at eight or nine hundred points at most.

’But Fang Tangtang’s already eaten at least ten, right?’

An image suddenly flashed through Gao Neng’s mind. He remembered that when Fang Tangtang came to register, she had arrived in a hover car.

"Tangtang, is your grandfather also a commander in the Military Department?" Gao Neng asked tentatively.

"No, why do you ask?" Fang Tangtang was a little confused.

"Huh? That’s strange. If your grandfather isn’t a commander in the Military Department, why do you call Ning’Er ’Sister’?" Gao Neng was genuinely curious.

"Oh, you’re asking about that. My grandfather and Sister Ning’Er’s grandfather are business partners."

"Business partners?"

"Yep. My grandpa often sells things to Grandpa Shen."

"Sells things? What kind of things?"

"Munitions."

"..." Gao Neng.

’Munitions!’

’Munitions!’

’Munitions!’

’Important things must be said three times!’

"Actually, my grandpa doesn’t just sell munitions. He sells other things too, like elixirs, ores, and stuff." As she spoke, Fang Tangtang casually grabbed five or six more Energy Pills, popped them in her mouth, and chewed happily. NOM NOM.

Gao Neng didn’t press any further.

Because the thought of robbing her, which he had just suppressed, had risen again. Besides, he had a great geographical advantage. ’The one closest gets the prize.’ On some dark and windy night, he could sneak up to the second floor through a window and mug Fang Tangtang. ’That should be doable, right?’

Just as he was thinking...

He saw Fang Tangtang extend a hand in front of him.

"Want a couple to tide you over?"

’A handout?’ Gao Neng glanced at the two Energy Pills in Fang Tangtang’s hand and turned to leave without looking back. ’She thinks a mere two pills will make me give up on the idea of robbing her?’

’How naive!’

"You really don’t want them? Is it not enough?" Fang Tangtang looked into her pocket. "Gao Neng, I still have a lot more, like seven or eight hundred. I can give you five more, want them?"

"..." Gao Neng froze.

’Seven or eight hundred?!’

’She has that many?’

’Nope, I’m finding a chance to rob Fang Tangtang tonight. I have to! As for taking five? Forget it...’ Gao Neng was a man of integrity. He could rob her with his own two hands.

...

After leaving training room 080.

Gao Neng soon discovered that the name on the display screen at the entrance of the training room had changed from the original Lone Soul Team to the Invincible Team.

They finally had a training room of their own.

And they could get a 20% discount when shopping, too.

Although they hadn’t figured out a solution for the upcoming challenges, for now, this was at least worth celebrating.

"Hooray!"

"Let’s celebrate!"

"Big feast tonight, my treat!"

Fang Tangtang shouted.

But Gao Neng noticed that Kong Kun and Feng Qingqing, who were by the door, didn’t look too happy.

Furthermore, he saw a bald man standing behind Kong Kun and Feng Qingqing, shining as brightly as a lamp in the hallway.

"Baldy... Oh, Teacher Gui, you’re here?" Gao Neng said respectfully at once.

"Celebrate my ass! You think a fight like that is worth celebrating?! If Cui Jun hadn’t been so stupid, you would’ve had no hope of winning. From the very beginning, you had already lost!" Gui Zian roared.

"But we still won..." Fang Tangtang grumbled, a little dissatisfied.

"Yes, you won, but I don’t think there was anything glorious about it! If you keep fighting like this, you’re bound to lose your future matches!"

"Then what should we do?"

"Now that you have a training room, you should seize the time to practice. If I’m not mistaken, in two days at most, other teams will come to challenge you four rookies! Holding onto the last place on the battle rankings—that’s my only requirement. As for challenging anyone higher? I think it’s best you don’t embarrass me!" After speaking, Gui Zian turned and left without giving Gao Neng and the others a chance to reply.

"Tch, if he says not to challenge, then we won’t. Gao Neng, let’s go celebrate tonight. A freshman team successfully challenged the battle rankings! I have to report the good news to my grandpa. He’ll definitely be delighted to hear it!" Fang Tangtang pouted, then pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

Kong Kun and Feng Qingqing exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat ashamed. Although Gao Neng and Fang Tangtang had won their matches, the two of them had actually lost.

However, this battle had also given them a true understanding of the strength of those on the battle rankings. Next up, they needed to train hard and hold on to the last place on the list.

Because they knew very well...

Their win hadn’t been a glorious one, so it would be normal for other teams to challenge them.

"..." Gao Neng said nothing. He didn’t want to guilt-trip anyone. He had a mission, but Fang Tangtang, Kong Kun, and the others didn’t.

He wanted to challenge all 20 teams on the D-List within a month.

That was his goal.

’So, did Fang Tangtang and Kong Kun have to cooperate with his goal?’

’If Gao Neng truly had the strength to lead Fang Tangtang and the others through the entire D-List, there would be no problem. But the problem was, he didn’t.’

One battle.

Gao Neng had learned a lot from that one battle.

’Even when using his Lifeform Transformation, he could only challenge a Tier Two Late Stage at best. If he had to face Cui Jun head-on, it was more likely that he would lose.’

’This match was won by luck. What about the next one?’

’Could he really climb to the top of the D-List just by relying on luck?!’

"I’m going back to train!" Gao Neng said, then left immediately. This was the first time he felt a mission was impossible to complete—truly impossible.

’The battle rankings... they’re really strong!’

’Nightmare Evolution...’

’The path to becoming strong allows no retreat.’

’But how could he forge his own path to strength? He only had a month, yet he hadn’t even finished magnetizing his right arm or reached Tier One Mid Stage. How much further could he possibly go?’

’Might as well just rob Fang Tangtang.’

’She’s carrying seven or eight hundred Energy Pills. Plus the 50 Merit Points he just won, making a total of 1150 Merit Points. If he exchanged all of those for Energy Pills, he’d get over 200 more.’

’That’s probably enough to cover the penalty, right?’

’Right. Give up the mission and choose to take down Fang Tangtang instead.’

’Fang Tangtang’s combat power is high, but as long as I suppress her and don’t give her a chance to use her Electromagnetic Cannon, taking her down... shouldn’t be a big problem.’

’And speaking of taking someone down...’

An image inexplicably flashed through Gao Neng’s mind.

’Wait!’

’I’m the man who took down Shen Ning’Er, how can I admit defeat?! In three years, I’m supposed to beat Shen Ning’Er to a pulp. And now I’m chickening out because of a few trash-tier teams?’

’No, I can’t chicken out!’

’I am Gao Neng, the genius Gao Neng! I’ve broken the Fourth Human Limit! I’ve achieved mastery over my marrow, muscles, and blood! I have Spiritual Power, my talents are maxed out, and I can even transform!’

’How can I chicken out?!’

’How could I possibly chicken out!’

"Tomorrow, I’ll challenge the 19th-ranked team on the D-List! Even if Fang Tangtang and the others don’t participate, I’ll challenge them alone! The path of the strong is like a boat sailing against the current; if you don’t advance, you fall back. I will never give up! And Shen Ning’Er, I will defeat her too! A man’s promise cannot be broken!" Gao Neng clenched his fists, a fire burning in his chest.

"Then I’ll be waiting for you to come and defeat me," a crisp voice rang out.

"Huh? That sounded like Shen Ning’Er’s voice. Am I having auditory hallucinations?" Gao Neng was startled. He shook his head and continued walking forward with large strides.

But soon, he realized he wasn’t just having auditory hallucinations, but visual ones too.

At the turn of the staircase stood a figure clad in a black military uniform, with jet-black hair and features and an aura of devastating, world-toppling beauty.

"Tangtang told me that during the freshman orientation assembly, in front of all the new students and the entire school’s faculty, you said I was your wife?" Shen Ning’Er continued, a powerful energy radiating from her body.

’This visual hallucination is getting more and more realistic... I can even feel the energy fluctuations? How magical!’ Gao Neng paused, then, without the slightest hesitation, turned and ran.

’Gan Liniang!’

’That psycho Shen Ning’Er actually came all the way to the Eastern Capital Military Academy!’

’And she’s deliberately waiting here to ambush me...’

’An ambush!’

’He wouldn’t even believe she came all this way just for him!’

’How long has Shen Ning’Er been waiting here?’

’Oh, no, the real question is, just how much rage has Shen Ning’Er built up?! Is she going to cripple one of his little legs with a single move?’

"CLICK!"

Gao Neng, who had only taken two steps, suddenly felt something tighten around his foot.

THUD.

He tumbled to the ground.

And on his ankle was a glittering golden ring...

’A golden ring?’ Gao Neng’s expression changed several times. ’Why does this scene feel so familiar? Did he just successfully get snared by Shen Ning’Er again?’

"Ding! Similar plot detected. Bonus Mission successfully triggered. The tall, mighty, and handsome Host may choose whether to accept. The System is not forceful!"

’A Bonus Mission? They actually kept the Bonus Missions?!’ Gao Neng originally thought the missions would be canceled after the system’s Nightmare Evolution, but he never expected that only the daily missions were gone while the best Bonus Missions remained. This was truly a silver lining!

’Since it’s a Bonus Mission...’

’There’s no reason to hesitate. After all, there’s no penalty.’

’This thing is a free lunch handed to me on a silver platter!’

"Accept!"

"Bonus Mission: Three Days and Three Nights."

"Mission Description: A man’s dignity cannot be provoked. What has been said must be boldly acknowledged. No one can question your words, because even lies can become the truth! (P.S.: This mission is a bonus triggered by ’Once is Possible, Twice is Possible, and so is a Third Time’ and ’Don’t Go, Let’s Fight ’Til Dawn’. When you successfully recreate the plot scene, the system will trigger again.)"

"Mission Completion Conditions: Forcefully suppress Shen Ning’Er’s wrath and, openly and honorably, have Shen Ning’Er stay in your room for three days and three nights."

"Mission Rewards: For successfully having her stay one night, receive (one Middle-Level Treasure Chest). For successfully having her stay two nights, receive (one High-Level Treasure Chest). For successfully having her stay three nights, receive (one spin of the Lucky Prize Wheel)."