Ou Tao sprinted through the village without a backward glance. Villagers, absorbed in their own tasks, paid no mind to why Rod was heading toward the hunter’s cabin.
Had they known the one controlling Rod’s body was a first-time visitor—yet weaving through the chaotic maze of over a hundred haphazard houses like a local—they’d be utterly baffled.
*The Hamiyou staff must be stunned*, Ou Tao mused.
In that single-second leap and landing, he’d memorized the entire village layout and calculated the optimal path to the hunter’s cabin—saving two stamina points.
Unbeknownst to them, the Hamiyou team was still debating how Ou Tao’s four-second body adaptation showcased elite immersive gaming skill. They had no idea he’d mastered that at eleven. Basic stuff. The real flex? That one-second leap to map the shortest route and conserve stamina.
Alas, they missed the god-tier detail entirely—thinking he’d just jumped to warm up in the cold.
Exhaling warm puffs, Ou Tao rubbed his hands while running. He reached the hunter’s cabin. “Hello? Anyone there?”
“Rod!” Three burly middle-aged men stood inside, clad in beast pelts, gripping curved bows and hunting knives. They turned, shooting him a sideways glance.
“What do you want? Bamboo rabbit meat? No credit!”
“Yeah! With your frail body, who knows if you’ll ever get up again? Who’d pay us then?”
“Don’t expect charity for you and your daughter. Winter’s hard on everyone!”
One waved dismissively, clearly impatient.
Ou Tao didn’t mind. This body was just an ordinary, honest farmer.
“My apologies, gentlemen. I’m not here to buy food—I’d like to know what creatures live on this mountain.”
“Rod, lost your mind? You’ve lived here thirty years and don’t know?”
“Check the hunter’s bulletin board!”
Ou Tao instantly noted it: every village’s hunter cabin had a board listing nearby monsters. No need to ask.
Glancing, he saw—Eiffel Duchy, southwest corner. Bobo Village. Outside: three monster types, one unique plant.
Winter Bamboo (Lv. 0) – Pale blue plant thriving in snow. Nutritious, usable as firewood. Sustains the village.
Bamboo Rabbit (Lv. 2) – Non-aggressive but swift. Ears detect faint sounds; escapes quickly. Feeds on Winter Bamboo.
Bamboo Boar (Lv. 5) – Fierce, irritable, yet non-aggressive toward humans.
Mountain Boss: Bamboo Boar King – Formidable. Drops a white Heavenly Principle Chest.
“Huff…” Ou Tao exhaled, rubbing his hands.
“Let’s hunt. Bamboo Rabbits have gotten craftier lately!”
“Mm, got it!” Ou Tao fell into step with them like an old friend.
“Hey—why’re you following us?” The hunters turned.
A pro gamer plays smart. Ou Tao had calculated: the mountain path was wind-exposed. No fur coat meant solo travel would drain stamina fast. But using these three burly hunters as windbreaks? Efficient.
“Truth be told,” Ou Tao said with feigned humility, “I’d like to hunt too… but I’m wary of the beasts. Could esteemed brothers offer guidance?”
“What?! Hahahaha! *You*, Rod?!”
They burst laughing. “You’re just a farmer—understand? Most common, weakest, cheapest profession on the continent. And *us*—”
They swiped fingers proudly, flashing status panels: “Hunter.”
“Don’t think mountain hunting’s simple!”
“Tagging along’ll only slow us down!”
Ou Tao noted their stats: Strength 19, 21, 18. All Level 5.
His own Level 3 farmer body had Strength 18. *Brother Wei Da didn’t lie—Rod’s a top-tier alt. Just born poor, never developed.*
*Now under expert hands. I’ll care for your daughter. Make your name echo across the continent. Rest easy.*
“I’ll take the risk,” Ou Tao offered. “Carry your gear, cause no trouble. Split the hunt—mine is mine, yours is yours. Deal?”
Tempted by free labor, they reluctantly nodded.
The path was bitterly cold. Past the windy ridge, Ou Tao’s stamina dropped to 40. He set his pack down. Ahead: a vast, flat snowfield.
Suddenly, an elderly man emerged from the blizzard—hunched, partially bald, temples frosted. Bow in hand, he signaled silence and whispered hoarsely:
“Young rascals… trouble. Recent blizzards buffed Bamboo Rabbits with ‘Frost Ear’—sharper than ever!”
He drew his bow, aimed at a distant rabbit, released.
The rabbit’s ears twitched—*dart*—it leaped. Arrow missed.
The old hunter sighed. The three frowned.
“Even *you*, Old Hunter, missed?”
“Guess we return tomorrow…”
His gaze landed on Ou Tao. “Rod? A farmer here? Wasting stamina to die?”
“He claims he wants to hunt. Must be delirious.”
“Here to carry our gear for free!”
Unfazed, Ou Tao said, “Then let’s split up here.”
He stepped forward, mind racing: Bamboo Rabbits move 1 yard/sec. Chasing wastes stamina. No ranged weapon. Reaction time ~0.7 sec. His Strength 18—astonishing here. Within ten meters, a stone to the head (Resistance 1) = 4-second stun.
“Hey Rod, no bow? I’ll lend you one!”
“Let’s go. Conserve stamina.”
“His Strength’s only 18. *I’m* 25 and can’t land shots. Don’t waste arrows!”
But astonishment struck. The middle-aged man picked up two stones, crept slowly under snow-dusted bamboo cover.
At ten meters—he hurled the first stone. It flew like a cannonball, yet slower than arrows here.
The rabbit dodged. But mid-leap—the second stone arrived. *Thud!*
Bursting through snow, it struck the rabbit’s head. Stun triggered. The rabbit plowed a furrow through pristine snow. Ou Tao snatched its ears, tossed it into the cage.
He grabbed two more stones, moved to the next. First stone always missed. Second? Always a headshot.
“Impossible!” The old hunter’s bow clattered to the ground. “He… he’s *predicting*!”
“What?”
“Prediction!” Eyes narrowed. “Strength 18 stones are too slow—they’d dodge. But he reads the twitch in their leg muscles *before* the leap. Predicts direction, distance. Throws the second stone *there*. Rabbit commits to dodging the first—can’t change course—smashes into the second mid-air.”
The old man trembled. Last time he saw prediction? Black Forest. Carrying gear for a Level 30 elven archer with a Spiritwood Bow.
But a Level 3 farmer—no buffs, no gear—using *stones* to predict an agile creature’s move? Unthinkable!
The three hunters’ faces fell. Their earlier smugness vanished. *If he’s “carrying gear,” what are we?*
Hunters with skill buffs and solid stats—they gritted teeth, tried throwing stones.
No Ou Tao-level reflexes. Soon, every rabbit fled.
A chill ran down their spines. Ou Tao returned, cage overflowing. They’d become his windbreaks.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Ou Tao said lightly. “Ranged attacks? Barely beginner level. My strength’s the sword. Sadly, stats too low… better conserve stamina in winter.”
Their faces twisted. *“Barely beginner”? Then how insane is he with a sword?!* They dismissed it as bragging—though seeing him wield steel would change their minds.
“Uncle,” one hunter said, tone softened, “you knocked out so many rabbits. Leveled to 4 already! At Level 5, reclass as Hunter. With your skill, you’d dominate bows—even hunt the Black Forest!”
“Believe me—I’m not joking. My ranged combat power is less than one-tenth of my melee.”
