What… what is this…
Several burly men stumbled back, their faces ashen.
To say they weren’t scared would be a lie.
Fear was a primal instinct, especially when faced with a colossal entity; such terror struck the very soul!
The burly men had initially expected only one or two burrowing worm larvae to emerge from the sand.
Six of them against two larvae should have been more than enough.
It was a perfect opportunity to show off their skills to the female student and Xiaobai, to display their prowess.
Who could have imagined that instead of seeing any larvae, a gigantic creature would erupt directly from the ground!
[Drillworm Matriarch] Level IV mutated insect!
Two whole levels higher than a burrowing worm larva!
A mere one-level difference in insect mutation levels meant an unfathomable gap in strength.
Those six-legged monstrous insects that could be felled with a few sword strikes and the formidable burrowing worm larvae were only one level apart.
Now, the Matriarch had appeared, bypassing levels…
This was an enemy utterly impossible to defeat!
Encountering a leader-class boss right after leaving the新手村 (novice village)? Wasn't this a recipe for total annihilation!?
"No, Professor Xiao, since she doesn't want to leave, let's hurry and go!
If we delay any longer, none of us will make it out. This… this monster is too terrifying!"
The burly man stammered, his voice trembling.
"Quick, trust your uncle. Uncle isn't a bad person!
Let's leave here first. When your father finishes his work, he will definitely come back to find you!"
Xiao Guanghan said nervously.
"Do I use this to contact Dad?"
Xiaobai took out a walkie-talkie and asked.
"You have a walkie-talkie? Even better! If your father returns, he'll surely contact you through the walkie-talkie!
Then Uncle will personally take you to find your father! Okay?"
Xiao Guanghan forced himself to remain calm.
The group behind him had descended into utter chaos.
If Xiao Guanghan hadn't been there, they probably would have already fled without a trace.
Xiao Guanghan also knew that his knowledge would be of no use against a Level IV mutated insect.
This was because it was his first time encountering such a creature; he had zero intelligence on it!
But…
Xiaobai glanced at the enormous worm matriarch, her eyes filled with reluctance.
If she could fight such a giant, how interesting that would be!
Too bad Dad doesn't let me play…
If Xiaobai plays, Dad will be angry if he finds out…
Er Pang Gege will also get scolded…
Xiaobai can't implicate Er Pang Gege…
But… seeing such a cute big monster, it was too unbearable to resist the urge to punch it a few times!
Maybe…
It's better to not see it, not to think about it!
With that thought, Xiaobai nodded firmly at Xiao Guanghan.
"Okay, that's great, let's retreat quickly!"
Xiao Guanghan signaled the female student to take Xiaobai and Er Pang into the RV.
Subsequently, the burly men and the others leaped into the vehicle at breakneck speed and sped away.
They drove for over five hundred meters before they, still shaken, cast a glance back through the rearview mirror.
They saw the towering, colossal monster standing in place, roaring loudly.
As if declaring war on someone or something.
Its sturdy carapace suddenly opened, revealing faintly translucent wings within.
The rattling of its vibrating carapace echoed through the buildings.
The surrounding six-legged monstrous insects, upon hearing the sound, immediately hid themselves.
"What a terrifying creature…
Thank goodness we ran fast, and the monster didn't chase us… We're finally safe!"
The burly man sighed in relief.
"The Drillworm Matriarch being a Level IV mutated insect, I must record this!
I wonder if the habits of the insects here are the same as those on Earth…"
Xiao Guanghan took out his notebook and began recording diligently.
At the same time, he sketched a rough portrait of the worm matriarch.
"Wow, your drawing is so lifelike! Can you teach Xiaobai?"
Xiaobai asked curiously.
"You want to learn? Alright, let me ask you first, have you ever studied sketching?"
Xiao Guanghan inquired.
"Sketching? What's that?"
Xiaobai shook her head, bewildered.
"It's okay, then… have you studied watercolors? Simple drawings? Have you ever drawn anything?"
Xiao Guanghan asked three or four questions in a row.
Xiaobai still shook her head.
"Then… it's fine, just draw whatever you like, and I'll look at your foundation!"
Xiao Guanghan handed the pen to Xiaobai with a smile.
In his opinion, Zhang Chen was surely dead by now.
This was the early stage of the new apocalyptic environment, and everyone's level was generally stuck before becoming Advanced Awakened. Such strength was utterly incapable of resisting such behemoths.
Perhaps with another week of dedicated leveling, a select few might emerge who could contend with it.
But for now…
Xiao Guanghan shook his head slightly. It was best to help Xiaobai overcome the grief of her father's death as quickly as possible.
Perhaps learning to draw, giving her another hobby, could help distract her.
Looking at Xiaobai, Xiao Guanghan couldn't help but sigh, reminded of his own daughter.
"I'm done, take a look!"
Xiaobai placed the pen on the table and said with a grin.
"Done? So quickly?"
Xiao Guanghan picked up Xiaobai's drawing and glanced at it casually. With just one look, his eyes widened in shock, and his mouth hung agape.
"This… did you just draw this?"
Xiao Guanghan asked in disbelief.
"Yeah!"
Xiaobai casually replied, stroking Er Pang's furry ear.
"Let me see, let me see how little sister drew!"
The female student leaned over with a smile, intending to glance at Xiaobai's drawing.
A child who had never been exposed to art would surely produce a dreadful drawing; this was to be expected.
"Why is Professor Xiao so surprised?"
With just one look, the female student was also shocked and asked hesitantly.
"This… did you draw this?"
"Yeah, is there anyone else here? You guys are so strange!"
Xiaobai frowned and retorted.
On the drawing paper, the worm matriarch was depicted exactly like Xiao Guanghan's drawing.
Even the shading was in the same places, as if it were a photograph of Xiao Guanghan's artwork!
Yet, the drawing speed was much faster than Xiao Guanghan's!
"Are you sure… you've never learned to draw before?"
"Then how did you manage to draw like this?"
Xiao Guanghan asked, his face full of shock.
"This is nothing, I just watched you draw it once, and then I learned by copying, that's all!"
"Uncle, what exactly is drawing? When will you teach me?"
Xiaobai asked, blinking her eyes.
"This…"
Xiao Guanghan was speechless.
What was there to teach? She learned it just by watching once; this was truly a prodigy of the ages!
"Do you… like biology?"
Xiao Guanghan asked with a slight smile, suddenly changing the subject.