C19 You Are Not Xie Yang.

The trio that arrived were male adventurers. One was a brawny, honest-looking fellow. Another was a slender young man. The last was a square-faced, middle-aged man exuding maturity and stability.

The forthright, muscular man led the way. His had been the voice calling out earlier. Upon spotting Xie Yang, he paused, a realization dawning on him. He slapped his forehead and sighed in exasperation.

"Tung Yaying, you've fallen for a pretty face again. What have you promised him this time?"

"Moo Zhen, who's fallen for a handsome man?"

Tung Yaying shot the brawny man a glare before introducing Xie Yang to the group.

"He's on the same mission as us. He wants to head to Knell Valley too, but couldn't secure a ride. So, I offered to take him with us."

"You're heading to Knell Valley?"

Moo Zhen examined Xie Yang, then scratched his head.

"Kid, you look like you're still in school, am I right?"

Xie Yang nodded confidently. "I'm a student at Lakeshell High, set to graduate this year."

Upon hearing this, everyone except Tung Yaying, who was already in the know, looked at him oddly.

He was merely an apprentice Beastmaster and a student at that. His pet likely hadn't even reached second rank, and yet he was bold enough to venture into Knell Valley. They weren't sure whether to admire his courage or question his sense of self-preservation.

Moo Zhen, ever the straightforward one, scratched his head again and advised, "Little brother, Knell Valley is too perilous for you. You'd be better off picking an easier task."

Xie Yang just shrugged. "I think I can handle this mission."

"It's too tough for you," Moo Zhen insisted.

The thin young man was growing visibly impatient with Xie Yang's disregard for their warnings. He frowned and said, "You're just an ungraduated student. How are you going to handle the Death Bell Beetles in the valley? You're not Xie Yang."

Caught off guard, Tung Yaying, standing to the side, blurted out, "Xie Yang?"

Moo Zhen clarified, "Don't you remember? Just yesterday, we talked about Xie Yang, the unparalleled genius who aced the superior-grade Apprentice Assessment!"

Tung Yaying whipped her head around to stare at Xie Yang, her expression one of utter astonishment.

She recalled the young man who had introduced himself earlier, mentioning his name was Xie Yang.

And here he was, also named Xie Yang, boldly ready to take on the task of exterminating a swarm of insects.

His identity was unmistakably clear.

"You're Xie Yang?"

Tung Yaying's voice faltered as she asked.

Her question left the others momentarily dumbfounded.

But they quickly regained their composure and turned to Xie Yang with looks of amazement.

Speaking candidly, Xie Yang confirmed, "Yes, I did pass the Apprentice Assessment at the superior level yesterday."

Moo Zhen was visibly taken aback.

The other three shared his astonishment.

They hadn't anticipated that the prodigious Beastmaster, who had stirred up such a buzz in Lakeshell's Beastmaster community, would suddenly be among them.

Tung Yaying, who had brought Xie Yang to this place, was particularly astounded.

"I can't believe my luck," she murmured, still in shock.

After a while, everyone had processed the revelation and continued to gaze at Xie Yang with newfound respect.

At this point, no one even thought of suggesting that Xie Yang should turn back.

A genius Beastmaster with a second-rank pet capable of slaying a Sword-toothed Lion was nearly as formidable as these seasoned adventurers. Taking on the mission to wipe out the insect swarm was well within his means.

The slender young man was now cringing with embarrassment.

He had used Xie Yang's name to mock, never imagining that he was actually in the presence of Xie Yang himself.

The awkwardness was palpable.

Thankfully, Xie Yang appeared to have no desire to engage in a dispute over the matter.

The man stepped forward, offering his hand to Xie Yang.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Kong Qian, the captain of this squad. I apologize for how I spoke to you earlier; we meant no harm."

"I understand," Xie Yang replied, shaking his hand with a smile, signaling that there were no hard feelings.

"As for the ride..."

Kong Qian interjected promptly, "No problem at all, we'll share the ride!"

In stark contrast to his earlier nonchalance, Xie Yang now exuded a palpable enthusiasm. His companions had grown accustomed to such shifts in his demeanor. After all, as a genius who had aced the superior grade test, Xie Yang was on a trajectory toward a limitless future. If he stayed alive, he was bound to become a formidable peak Beastmaster. They certainly wouldn't miss the chance to forge a connection with him!

Even the slender young man flashed a sycophantic smile at Xie Yang, his previous impatience nowhere to be seen. Thanks to the deliberate cordiality of Kong Qian and the others, the mood among them quickly turned convivial.

They reached the parking area and got ready to embark on their journey. Their transport was a Jeep, modified and fortified for durability. Solid alloy steel plates shielded its sides and rear, and it rode on tires designed for rugged terrain. In the wild, where ferocious beasts lurked, a robust vehicle was essential.

"Knell Valley is renowned for its Death Bell Beetles, which are the most abundant creatures there," Tung Yaying shared with Xie Yang as they traveled. "The beetles aren't particularly strong, but their tendency to swarm makes them a threat. Yet, with a well-coordinated team, they're easily handled."

"Overall, Knell Valley is an ideal place for apprentice Beastmasters to team up and face challenges. It's a popular hunting ground for many apprentices." Tung Yaying stole glances at Xie Yang while speaking, her excitement barely contained. Only a prodigy like him would venture into Knell Valley alone so soon after becoming an apprentice Beastmaster. Truly, geniuses defy conventional expectations.

Xie Yang inquired, "The mission brief mentioned the Death Bell Beetles in Knell Valley are starting to migrate outward—is that the case?"

Tung Yaying confirmed, "Exactly. Normally, the beetles would confine themselves to the valley. But over the last month, they've inexplicably become agitated, moving beyond the valley and even initiating attacks on humans in nearby villages!"

"Now, we're at risk of beetle attacks even outside the valley, and the closer we get to Knell Valley, the greater the danger. So we'll need to proceed with caution."

Before Tung Yaying could finish her sentence, Kong Qian cut her off sharply.

"We've got a swarm of Death Bell Beetles about two hundred meters ahead, numbering between one hundred and two hundred. Everyone, brace for battle!"

Tung Yaying's expression seized up.

Moo Zhen, seated at the front, chuckled and remarked, "You've become quite the oracle."

She shot him a glare, then swiftly unzipped her tactical backpack and retrieved the battle recorder.

With a buzz, the palm-sized device unfolded its gossamer-thin rotor blades and ascended into the air, stabilizing roughly ten meters off the ground.

Meanwhile, Kong Qian, Moo Zhen, and Yin Xuan wasted no time in calling forth their pets.