"Enter the Forbidden Zone of the Thousand Demon Cave?"
Cao Yong's face changed slightly, and he frowned at him: "Why are you asking about this?"
Xu Zhou was slightly taken aback. From the tone, it seemed the teacher didn't allow him to approach the forbidden zone?
He quickly said, "I heard before that the forbidden zone is about to open, and it sounds very intriguing, so I wanted to learn about it."
"Intriguing?" Cao Yong glanced at him and pondered, "The Forbidden Zone of the Thousand Demon Cave is not something fresh and new."
"Ever since that great cataclysm three hundred years ago, the territory of Yan Country expanded hundreds of times, but almost all of these expanded areas became forbidden zones."
"Because within these forbidden zones, there are various kinds of powerful mutant beasts, and even terrifying mythical giants exist."
"Of course, nowadays, most of the forbidden zones have been sealed off by Yan Country, even controlled and suppressed with massive military force."
Cao Yong said slowly, "The Forbidden Zone of the Thousand Demon Cave is one of them."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhou felt a slight tremor in his heart.
Suppress a forbidden zone?
According to Cao Yong, even mythical giants exist within the forbidden zone.
Just how powerful must one be to suppress those mythical giants?
"Are there mythical giants in the Forbidden Zone of the Thousand Demon Cave?" Xu Zhou asked subconsciously.
Cao Yong shook his head, "That's unclear. The specific situation is only known to the military."
"However, the Thousand Demon Cave opens once every five years. Most likely, there are no mythical creatures, or even if there are, they have been suppressed."
Xu Zhou nodded and subconsciously asked, "Why does it only open every five years?"
Cao Yong gave him a half-smile and looked at him, little guy, asking a lot of questions.
The matter of the Thousand Demon Cave's forbidden zone is not something this kid should be dealing with.
However, Cao Yong still replied, "Because in the forbidden zone, mutant beasts are continuously proliferating. If left unchecked, their numbers would increase exponentially."
"Once a beast tide forms and breaks through the military blockades, it would cause great harm to human cities."
"The first to bear the brunt would be cities like ours, in the Outer City District."
"So the forbidden zone opens once every five years to clear out those mutant beasts that haven't yet grown up."
With that, Cao Yong casually added:
"To encourage martial artists to enter the forbidden zone, the government offers generous rewards each time it opens, like plenty of cash and cultivation resources."
"Of course, the mutant beasts themselves are extremely valuable. Their corpses can fetch a decent amount of income."
Hearing this, Xu Zhou's heart skipped a beat.
He didn't expect there to be so many benefits from the Forbidden Zone of the Thousand Demon Cave.
Massive amounts of cash, massive amounts of cultivation resources!
These were precisely what he lacked the most.
For a moment, Xu Zhou was incredibly tempted, and his determination to enter the Thousand Demon Cave grew even stronger.
Cao Yong looked at Xu Zhou, but his expression suddenly turned stern, "Xu Zhou, the Forbidden Zone of the Thousand Demon Cave is not something you should be dealing with right now."
"Even though it has been brought under military control, the level of danger is still far beyond what you can handle."
"Don't even think about it, and definitely don't try to get near it."
Cao Yong's tone was unprecedentedly serious, "Your current task is to focus on cultivating hard, do you understand?"
Xu Zhou remained silent.
He hadn't even gotten around to asking how to get recommended by the school.
And now, the teacher had given him a stern warning.
He couldn't help but say, "Teacher, I'm already ranked fifth on the Freshman Top Hundred list."
"So what if you're fifth on the Freshman Top Hundred list in high school?" Cao Yong said indifferently, "Is that very strong?"
"Wait until you break through to the third form of the knife technique, then we'll talk about this again."
Hearing this, Xu Zhou sighed helplessly, "Got it, teacher."
...
Walking out of Cao Yong's office, Xu Zhou's determination only grew stronger.
He must make a trip to the Forbidden Zone of the Thousand Demon Cave.
The benefits Cao Yong mentioned were only secondary.
The key was, his Avatar of the mutated fowl with shark teeth would eventually have to be released.
And the Forbidden Zone of the Thousand Demon Cave had countless mutant beasts that hadn't grown up yet; wouldn't they be just the right food for the mutated fowl?
At that time, there wouldn't even be a need to bring food. The Avatar could just hunt for itself.
"So, how can I enter the forbidden zone, exactly?" Xu Zhou pondered silently.
Once the forbidden zone opens, it only remains so for three months.
If he can't get in by then, it would be troublesome; he'd have to wait five more years for it to open again.
At this moment, Xu Zhou's eyes suddenly lit up.
Didn't he get Lin Shishi's contact information? As a senior and a member of the Dragon and Tiger List, Lin Shishi must know something about it.
Xu Zhou took out his phone and sent a message to Lin Shishi.
Xu Zhou: Are you there, senior?
After a moment, Lin Shishi replied.
Lin Shishi: What's up, little junior?
Xu Zhou: Senior, do you know how to get recommended by the school to enter the Thousand Demon Cave?
Lin Shishi: Huh? You're not thinking about going to the Thousand Demon Cave, are you?
Xu Zhou: Cough, I just want to know a bit more about it.
Lin Shishi: The Thousand Demon Cave opens in two months. Only the top ten members of the Dragon and Tiger List get recommended by the school, so you shouldn't even consider it, junior.
Xu Zhou: Top ten on the Dragon and Tiger List? Is my sister going?
Lin Shishi: Ruoxi definitely wants to go, but she seems to have trouble finding a partner, so she probably won't make it this time.
Xu Zhou: A partner?
Lin Shishi: The school mandates that the top ten members of the Dragon and Tiger List must team up in pairs to apply for entry into the Thousand Demon Cave. Solo entry is not allowed.
Staring at his senior's message, Xu Zhou fell into deep thought.
Even the top ten on the Dragon and Tiger List must team up to enter?
It seems the Thousand Demon Cave is really quite hazardous.
Lin Shishi, although Ruoxi's best friend, is ranked beyond fifty on the Dragon and Tiger List, so of course, she can't join her.
"Looks like the school recommendation method won't work..." Xu Zhou showed a hint of helplessness.
Just then, Lin Shishi sent another message.
Lin Shishi: But Ruoxi has other channels, like entering through the social martial artist route. Anyway, none of this concerns you, junior, so don't overthink it.
Xu Zhou: Okay, thank you, senior.
Closing his phone, Xu Zhou's eyes brightened slightly.
Of course, how could he forget this?
Certified social martial artists can bring one relative into the forbidden zone.
"Li Ruoxi seems to have passed the certification, hasn't she?" Xu Zhou thought.
Quickly, Xu Zhou decided to ask about it when he got home.
...
In the evening, returning home.
The family of four sat around the dining table.
Xu Zhou glanced at Xu Tianhai and Li Yanping, choosing not to immediately bring up the Thousand Demon Cave.
After all, it's a forbidden zone, and his parents would definitely worry if they knew.
Xu Zhou looked at Li Ruoxi and asked softly, "Sister, can you come to my room later? I need to ask you something."
Li Ruoxi slightly tilted her head, a puzzled look on her charming face, "Why?"
"Just come, or I can come to your room," Xu Zhou said.
"I'll come to your room," Li Ruoxi replied.
Nearby, Li Yanping overheard their conversation and found it amusing, "Why can't you say it here?"
Xu Zhou coughed and said, "I need to tell my sister something secret."
Li Ruoxi gave him a curious look.
On the side, Xu Tianhai and Li Yanping exchanged smiles and shook their heads.
After dinner.
Entering the bedroom and closing the door.
Li Ruoxi walked in barefoot, her fair little feet stepping on the floor.
When she saw the shark-toothed mutant fowl over a meter tall, her expression shifted slightly.
"Don't worry, it doesn't bite," Xu Zhou comforted.
Li Ruoxi rolled her eyes at him and said, "Go ahead, what's the matter?"
Xu Zhou immediately asked, "Sister, did you pass the certification for social martial artists?"
"I did, why?" Li Ruoxi said calmly.
Xu Zhou's eyes lit up, continuing, "Then can you bring a family member into the Thousand Demon Cave?"
Li Ruoxi looked at him, her long eyebrows slightly furrowing.
"You want to go to the Thousand Demon Cave?"
Xu Zhou nodded.
"Ridiculous!" Li Ruoxi scolded, "Do you know what kind of place that is?"
"I know, a forbidden zone," Xu Zhou nodded.
Li Ruoxi looked at him, her tone calming down, "You should give up on that idea. I won't take you."
Xu Zhou frowned, "Why?"
"You're too weak," Li Ruoxi's voice was icy.
Xu Zhou was silent, and after a moment, he said, "There's still two months until the Thousand Demon Cave opens, I'll become stronger by then."
Li Ruoxi remained exceptionally calm, her clear eyes fixed on Xu Zhou, "Even if you become stronger, so what? Have you seen death? Have you seen real mutant beasts?"
"Have you seen someone torn apart? Seen someone devoured alive? Seen a ground covered with human flesh?"
Li Ruoxi's gaze was cold and sharp, "When you see these things, your legs will give out, and you won't even be able to stand."
"I won't!" Xu Zhou looked at Li Ruoxi, his voice growing more determined.
"You will!"
Li Ruoxi moved closer, her presence bringing a faint fragrance. Her eyes were icy cold.
"Xu Zhou, you're my brother. I know you better than anyone else."
Xu Zhou looked straight at the girl in front of him, so beautiful that she outshone the world, "You don't understand me at all."
Perhaps he was like that before, just as Li Ruoxi said, but now, he definitely won't be!
Li Ruoxi laughed, her smile so dazzling that it could steal the hues of all things, breathtakingly beautiful, yet her tone was chilling, "You have two months. If you can defeat anyone on the Dragon and Tiger List, even the person ranked one hundredth, I'll agree to it."
"Also, don't think that your mutant fowl counts as a mutant beast."
"To understand how terrifying real mutant beasts are, you should try the school's virtual cabin."
After saying that, Li Ruoxi turned on her petite heels and left.
Xu Zhou looked at her graceful back, face calm, but inner feelings slightly unsettled.
In Li Ruoxi's eyes, he still seemed to be the timid kid, always in need of protection.
In reality, Xu Zhou did need Li Ruoxi's protection, as he still couldn't deal with Huang Yunxuan.
"Become stronger..." At this moment, Xu Zhou's resolve was increasingly steadfast.
Only by constantly becoming stronger can he change this entire situation!
"In two months, no, I won't even need that long," Xu Zhou murmured.
Today is the last day of the month, and the rewards for the Top Hundred List should be distributed when he goes to school next time.
By then, his strength will experience a significant boost.
Xu Zhou looked forward to it silently.