Chapter 33｜Beyond the Hunting Ground: New Territory Exploration and System Advancement

Dawn came slowly.

It was as if the mountains and forests hesitated, unsure whether to let the night slip away completely. A grayish-white light seeped through the treetops, gradually dispelling the lingering chill and fading the blood-soaked scent of the previous night.

Li Xing stood on high ground, gazing into the distance.

That was not the edge of the hunting grounds he knew.

Beyond it lay uncharted territory—denser woods, more complex terrain, mist pooling in hollows like unmarked boundary lines.

“This isn't the back mountains anymore,” Zhao Yun murmured, stepping beside him.

Li Xing nodded.

The back mountains defined the hunters' tacit boundaries;

this land before them bore no name.

Or rather, its name had long been erased by time.

Beyond the Hunting Grounds

The group did not advance immediately.

Though last night's battle had ended, everyone understood it was not the finish line—merely a qualification test.

Zhou Xiaoyu reconfirmed the surrounding visibility: “No tracking signs. At least we're safe for now.”

Li Yu inspected his Type 56 semi-automatic rifle with more practiced ease than before: “The system prompt keeps refreshing, like it's recalculating permissions.”

Zhou Yan crouched, observing the hunting dog's reaction. Unlike when entering high-level hunting grounds, the dog wasn't tense—just alert, yet not repelled.

“It's not afraid,” Zhou Yan murmured. “But it's cautious.”

Li Xing gazed toward the unknown territory, a clear realization forming in his mind—

This wasn't merely a hunting ground.

It felt more like a... transition zone.

System Advancement Notification

Just as the team prepared for a brief rest, Li Xing's system interface suddenly illuminated entirely.

This time, it wasn't a single prompt.

It was a complete permission restructuring.

【Hunting Ground Control Established】

【System Permissions Reevaluating...】

【Detected: High-Level Combat Experience】

【Team Coordination Level: Enhanced】

【Personal Modules Unlocking】

Li Xing distinctly sensed the system's feedback mechanism had shifted.

It no longer merely stacked data but provided more realistic, context-aware assistance.

Zhao Yun narrowed his eyes. “My weapon feedback... feels more direct.”

Li Yu nodded: “Ballistic correction hasn't strengthened, but the information is clearer.”

Zhou Xiaoyu looked up: “The visual analysis module is stable now, with lower latency.”

Zhou Yan added quietly: “The hound's tracking feedback is more precise, no longer chaotic.”

This wasn't mere enhancement.

It was adaptive upgrading.

The system no longer attempted to “guide” them; instead, it evolved alongside their combat style.

First Steps into the New Zone

Li Xing didn't immediately order a deep advance.

He chose a route that seemed circuitous but offered stable terrain, advancing slowly.

“Reconnaissance first. Don't enter the core immediately,” he said.

The team moved to this new rhythm, spacing more flexible than before yet maintaining constant visual coverage.

The further they advanced, the more pronounced the environmental shifts became.

Animal tracks vanished from the ground, replaced by traces of human activity—

old fire pits, frayed ropes, branches chopped off yet left to rot.

“This place was occupied long-term,” Zhao Yun murmured.

“And not by ordinary hunters,” Li Yu added.

Zhou Xiaoyu observed from a vantage point for a moment, her tone grave: “I see the outline of abandoned structures within sight.”

At that instant, everyone halted.

Structures meant organization.

It also meant the dangers in this area were no longer limited to beasts or scattered hunters.

System Silence

Just as Li Xing attempted to retrieve more detailed information, the system interface briefly—

Silent.

No error messages. No warnings.

Just blank space.

For a full three seconds.

Then, a new prompt slowly appeared:

[New Area: Unregistered]

[System Database Insufficient]

[Recommendation: Proceed with Caution]

For the first time, the system explicitly admitted—

It didn't know what lay ahead.

Yet Li Xing's heart steadied.

The unknown meant opportunity.

It also meant they had reached a level the system couldn't pre-plan for.

The Team's Transformation

Zhao Yun chuckled softly: “This doesn't feel like hunting anymore.”

“It feels like... stepping into a new world.”

Li Yu didn't smile, only tightened his grip on his rifle: “The rules will change.”

“But we've already adapted to variables,” Zhou Xiaoyu said.

Zhou Yan looked down at the hound and murmured, “It knows too. What lies ahead is different.”

Li Xing watched them and suddenly realized something—

This team no longer needed the system to tell them “how to survive.”

The system was gradually retreating into a supporting role.

And they were becoming the true decision-makers.

In the distance, the outlines of abandoned buildings...