Chapter 6: First Battle with Star Beast

After more than two hours, Su Yuan arrived at the Great Barbarian Mountain Area in the eastern suburb of Guangchuan City.

At this moment, the black backpack on Su Yuan's back was bulging completely.

It was filled with a substantial amount of compressed food and water, along with some basic medicine, enough to sustain Su Yuan for more than ten days.

"The Great Barbarian Mountain Area, this is the first time I've come here…"

Examining the densely vegetated mountain range ahead, which faintly emitted a sense of danger, Su Yuan tightened the long bag in his hand.

The Great Barbarian Mountain Area was a "low-stage dangerous zone" bordering the third-level cities Guangchuan City and Liao Ping City, as well as the second-stage city Qingye City.

Within the Great Barbarian Mountain Area were over two hundred different types of Star Beasts, with the highest reaching Silver Stage. It was the only dangerous zone surrounding Guangchuan City.

A dangerous zone referred to an area where Star Beasts roamed or places where Star Power anomalies were present.

Such dangerous zones were numerous throughout the Great Flame Country.

If the Great Flame Country truly wanted to completely flatten all dangerous zones within its borders, although it would require substantial effort, it could most certainly be done.

However, the Great Flame Country had not done so.

The reasons were simple. While dangerous zones posed some threats to nearby cities, they also served as crucial renewable resource zones.

Take the Star Beasts in dangerous zones, for instance. Whether it was Star Cores or materials derived from Star Beasts, they were indispensable treasures for Star Card Masters and various industries.

Not to mention dangerous zones often nurtured various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Through careful deliberation and planning, the Great Flame Country eradicated some densely packed, uncontrollable dangerous zones while preserving the rest, leaving them under the oversight and monitoring of local City Guards.

The Great Barbarian Mountain Area, in front of Su Yuan, was one such zone frequently visited by Guangchuan City's Star Card Masters for adventures. Due to its relatively low-dangerous outer areas, students from various middle schools in Guangchuan City often came here for training.

This included Guangchuan Fourth Middle School, where Su Yuan studied.

As far as Su Yuan knew, some students from his class would occasionally form teams to explore the Great Barbarian Mountain Area.

Su Yuan slowly opened the long fabric bag, revealing a chilling long knife inside—an E-3 alloy-standard long knife.

For Star Card Masters, especially low-stage ones, having a handy weapon was quite significant.

Low-grade white attack skills like Ice Cone Technique or Small Fireball did not necessarily cause more damage than directly using blades or swords.

Every student in the Spiritual Disciple Class had to choose a Martial Arts discipline, whether it was knives, spears, staffs, or even hand-to-hand combat. They were required to focus on one for practice, as it was also one of the subjects in the Star Apprentice Class's college entrance exams.

Su Yuan had chosen the long knife, a weapon known for its flexibility, speed, and sharpness.

At this moment, Su Yuan held in his hand the E-3 alloy-standard long knife, purchased at a discounted education price for practicing saber skills, though its original price exceeded twenty thousand currency units.

After neatly folding the fabric bag and storing it in his backpack, Su Yuan gripped the knife, took a deep breath, and stepped resolutely into the Great Barbarian Mountain Area...

After quickly traveling several kilometers, officially entering the outskirts of the Great Barbarian Mountain Area, Su Yuan soon encountered Star Beasts.

Under the tree ahead, there were two large yellow dogs with body lengths of about 1.3 to 1.4 meters. These yellow dogs had terrifying sharp teeth and, unlike typical dog species, had unusually broad ears.

"Big-eared Steel-toothed Dogs, huh?"

Su Yuan's mind immediately flashed with information about these Star Beasts:

[Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog]

[Grade: Ordinary]

[Species: Canine]

[Element: None]

[Talent: Auditory Enhancement: Possess enhanced hearing, allowing precise sound localization, and even avoiding certain sneak attacks through sound]

[Six Dimensions: Strength E, Agility E, Defense F, Constitution F, Spirit F, Star Power F]

[Skill: Steel Teeth Bite (Ordinary)]

"Back in Star Beast classes, we only encountered domesticated Star Beasts at the breeding base. This is my first time facing one in the wild."

"Judging by their Star Power fluctuations, they are around the Seventh Stage. Unfortunately, they're just ordinary Big-eared Steel-toothed Dogs. Steel Teeth Bite isn't much use to me. But they're perfect for testing the card decomposition feature."

*Honestly, the Steel Teeth Bite skill could be used, but relying on biting opponents in combat is laughably absurd. Beyond the horrifying visual, using it could end with my head getting smashed in an instant…*

As Su Yuan silently assessed them, the two Big-eared Steel-toothed Dogs, alerted by the sound of the wind, quickly detected Su Yuan approaching. Without hesitation, their eyes gleamed fiercely, rushing forward aggressively.

"Large build, fierce momentum, they certainly create a significant pressure!"

*Su Yuan held his breath, concentrating intently as his superior dynamic vision firmly locked onto the two charging Big-eared Steel-toothed Dogs. His left hand gripped the scabbard while his right hand rested on the hilt of his knife.*

The dogs, with Strength and Agility both at Dimension E, moved quickly. In just moments, they reached Su Yuan, their faint Star Power fluctuations intensifying. Their teeth, suddenly coated in a silvery-gray metallic hue, gleamed with robust texture, resembling metal.

Their skill: Steel Teeth Bite!

At that moment, the two Big-eared Steel-toothed Dogs sprang with force, scrambling to bite at Su Yuan!

Though Su Yuan remained stationary until now, he finally moved the instant the dogs leaped.

With agility far surpassing ordinary humans, Su Yuan sidestepped the first Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog and swiftly drew his long knife, slashing upward at the second dog just as it lunged toward him.

The second Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog hadn't anticipated Su Yuan's lightning-fast movement. It tried to dodge but, being airborne, couldn't change its direction.

A flash of cold light, followed by a burst of blood. The second Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog's head soared into the air, without even making a sound!

Meanwhile, the first Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog, which had missed its attack, had only just landed back on the ground.

The remaining dog turned sharply to look, realizing its companion was dead. Instead of retreating, its fierce resolve grew even stronger, its eyes brimming with rage!

"Woof!!"

The Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog barked furiously and immediately lunged at Su Yuan, mouth wide open, ready to bite!

But Su Yuan, having already turned to face it, didn't back down. He advanced swiftly, raising the long knife horizontally to slash directly at the dog's head!

The Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog, startled, managed to bite down on the blade with its metallic silver-gray teeth at the last moment. Having avoided decapitation, it prepared to use its great strength to slam Su Yuan to the ground.

What it hadn't accounted for was the overwhelming force behind Su Yuan's blade. In a split second, the dog was sent flying, losing most of its sharp teeth and spitting a mouthful of blood.

Before the Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog could regain its footing, Su Yuan's eyes glimmered silver. In the next moment, he instantly teleported behind the Star Beast and slashed fiercely.

The wind whistled from behind, the dog's broad ears twitched. Relying on its Auditory Enhancement talent, it immediately sensed the incoming attack. Filled with terror, it tried desperately to roll forward to evade.

*Detection was one thing, but whether or not it could truly dodge was another…*

A blood line appeared on the dog's back, extending all the way to its tail. Its hindquarters split in two, spilling a torrent of internal organs and blood from the gaping wound.

Though it reacted promptly, avoiding a headstrike, it ended up with most of its body ripped apart anyway.

Devastated by the heavy blow, the Big-eared Steel-toothed Dog collapsed onto the ground sluggishly. After weakly whimpering a few times, its eyes closed, and it ceased to move…