Zhang Ping spent the entire morning extracting every last iron bead from the dough.

In the afternoon, Liu Tiefeng assigned him to familiarize himself with various materials. Most of the special materials in Mingzhu City originated from Mutated Beasts and mutated plants.

For instance, the Crimson Serpent was originally a non-venomous snake. However, after mutating, it became venomous, developing fangs capable of secreting fiery poison. Its scales underwent drastic changes, becoming highly durable and capable of emitting extreme heat, leaving charred trails wherever it slithered.

Zhang Ping didn’t mind learning about such things—in fact, he was more invested than he ever had been with math and science in his previous life. While teaching him, Liu Tiefeng often shared anecdotes about his youth, including the methods he had used to gather materials and deal with Mutated Beasts.

These insights were invaluable.

The next two days passed in rigorous study until the night of the 22nd.

The woman had asked to meet on the 23rd in the small park behind Brisket Noodle House. Zhang Ping decided to scout the area beforehand. After all, it had been three years since he last returned to the orphanage, and he had no idea what changes might have occurred.

Once he confirmed that Liu Tiefeng was fast asleep, Zhang Ping slipped out of Iron Soul under the cover of darkness. With the Assassin Ring equipped, he moved like a ghost in the night.

Not far from the shop, a Skyborn Fox with a patch of human skin affixed to its forehead sat idly, staring at the shop sign. It didn’t notice Zhang Ping quietly exiting through a side window, nor did it seem particularly interested in its assigned task.

A fox could never suppress its suspicion.

‘Luo Shiyu’ hadn’t stopped suspecting Zhang Ping, but if he truly were involved, it believed he was merely a pawn rather than the mastermind. Thus, it had ordered its underlings to monitor Zhang Ping, hoping to uncover evidence of human rebellion.

During the day, Zhang Ping’s behavior was ordinary. At night, thanks to the Night Walker ability and the Assassin Ring, the Skyborn Fox and its subordinates were unconsciously distracted, failing to gather any useful information after several days.

Tonight was their final watch.

If nothing was discovered, the Skyborn Fox would abandon its surveillance of Zhang Ping.

---

The journey was uneventful.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Ping arrived at the small park.

The park looked vastly different from his memory. Once an open space, it was now dotted with numerous trees. They weren’t particularly tall or dense, but stepping into the park felt like entering a forest.

Something was off.

Zhang Ping instinctively gripped the dagger hidden in his sleeve.

A sense of being watched pricked at his nerves—someone else was in the woods.

Suddenly, a flash of red light appeared to his right. Adjusting his stance, he spotted a rat, about the size of a housecat, emerging slowly from behind a tree.

It was a Mutated Beast!

Zhang Ping quickly assessed the situation:

[Identification Complete]

[Mutated Beast: Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat]

[Species: Mutated Rat]

[Potential: ⭐⭐]

[Lifespan: 50 years]

[Level: Beginner Level Mutated Beast]

[Grade: 5]

[Abilities:]

- Toxic Tail: The bone spike on its tail contains lethal poison.

- Armored Fur: Its fur is as tough as armor, significantly boosting defense but reducing agility.

---

Thankfully, it was only a Beginner Level Mutated Beast.

Although there was a difference in grade—Grade Two versus Grade Five—the gap wasn’t insurmountable.

Zhang Ping felt a small sense of relief. Had it been an Intermediate Level Mutated Beast, survival would have been nearly impossible.

Still, he couldn’t afford to be careless. The rat’s toxic tail posed a severe threat, and Zhang Ping lacked the antidote needed to counteract such venom. He knew Mutated Beast toxins acted rapidly, leaving no room for error.

He focused, gripping his dagger tightly as he kept his eyes fixed on the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat.

The rat circled him cautiously, searching for weaknesses. Mutated Beasts weren’t mindless; they tested their prey’s strength before committing to an attack, withdrawing if the target proved too strong.

Zhang Ping forced himself to stay calm, mentally reviewing everything he had learned about combating Mutated Beasts.

He decided to take the initiative.

Springing forward like a panther, Zhang Ping closed the distance in an instant.

The rat’s armored fur offered immense protection. Most Awakeners targeting such creatures aimed for the eyes, their most obvious weak spot. Zhang Ping thrust his dagger, Beauty Tear, directly at the rat’s vulnerable eyes.

The rat, unable to evade, curled into a ball and spun clockwise, redirecting the force of Zhang Ping’s attack. The dagger, though sharp, landed on its armored fur with most of its power neutralized.

The rat’s fur was incredibly tough.

Even with his dagger’s razor-sharp blade, Zhang Ping couldn’t inflict any significant damage after his attack was deflected.

Once his shot missed, he immediately retreated.

The Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat abruptly stretched out its coiled body, its crimson eyes locked onto Zhang Ping. Its tail lashed out repeatedly.

Due to its height, the rat's tail strikes were all aimed at Zhang Ping’s knees. Unable to block the attacks, he had to pivot on his toes and retreat rapidly, creating some distance between them.

Seeing its flurry of attacks miss, the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat halted its assault, conserving its energy.

A meter away, Zhang Ping panted, sweat already forming on his forehead.

The earlier strikes had required nearly all his strength, and the successive evasions left no room for carelessness. As expected, combat was far more exhausting than training.

At Mingzhu Ability Academy, there were dedicated courses on managing stamina and conserving energy.

Zhang Ping gave it some thought, then shifted his grip on the dagger and adjusted his stance. His left foot moved forward, his right foot back, and both hands gradually rose.

Ming Fist: Mouse Chase!

Zhang Ping knew that his fists alone couldn’t unleash the full potential of Mouse Chase.

So, while he still clutched the dagger, he incorporated techniques from Ming Fist designed to deal with small Mutated Beasts.

He was faster than the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat. After he created some distance, the creature grew hesitant to act rashly.

He could have simply retreated further to escape the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat entirely.

But the Patrol Squad had already been drawn away by the Skyborn Fox, leaving him with no one to call for help.

If he didn’t deal with the rat here, tomorrow, children from the orphanage might wander into the park and fall victim to it.

That was a consequence he couldn’t accept.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward toward the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat again.

The rat’s body tensed slightly, but its tail arched high, resembling a massive scorpion.

Suddenly, Zhang Ping accelerated, feinting an attack on the rat’s right side. When its tail lashed in that direction, he swiftly pivoted to its left.

However, the rat’s reactions were lightning-fast. Its tail twisted into an “S” shape and immediately stabbed toward Zhang Ping’s extended arm.

A flaw!

Zhang Ping’s eyes lit up as he dropped into a deep horse stance, forcing his center of gravity downward.

As his stance shifted, so did his hand trajectory, narrowly avoiding the rat’s tail.

At that moment, the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat’s center was wide open. Faced with the sudden shift in position, it had no chance to evade.

All it could do was muster its strength to retreat.

But it was too late.

Before the rat could move, Zhang Ping’s fist crashed into its head with tremendous force.

Even with its tough fur offering some protection, the blow left the creature dazed and disoriented.

As it regained its vision, a glint of steel flashed before its eyes.

Zhang Ping’s dagger plunged into the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat’s eye, piercing through its eyeball and driving deep into its brain.

In its final moment before death, the rat’s body reacted instinctively, curling up and thrusting its tail toward Zhang Ping’s wrist.

Having anticipated this, Zhang Ping pulled his hand back and leapt away just as the rat curled up.

In the blink of an eye, the fight was over.

The rat’s last attack missed, and its lifeless body collapsed to the ground, blood oozing from its eye socket.

“Phew.”

Zhang Ping took two steps back and exhaled, slightly relieved.

The outcome wasn’t surprising.

After all, it was nighttime, and his Night Walker talent gave him a significant advantage.

Moreover, the rat’s weakness was obvious. Its heavily armored fur increased its defensive capabilities, but the added weight significantly slowed it down. At night, Zhang Ping’s speed increased as his weight decreased, giving him a decisive edge.

Still, the rat’s appearance here was unusual. With Night Walker and the Assassin Ring enhancing him, it should have been impossible for the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat to even detect his presence.

Scanning his surroundings, Zhang Ping considered his dwindling stamina. He decided against lingering and quickly turned to leave.

A few minutes later, a woman in a light green military uniform appeared next to the corpse of the Armored Toxic-Tailed Rat. She squatted down to examine the cause of its death, lifting the creature’s body with one hand.

"Sisi, do you think your old friend is human or a Mutated Beast?" she asked while scrutinizing the corpse.

Behind her stood a woman dressed in white, wearing a frosty mask that radiated a faint, icy mist.

"I don’t know," the masked woman replied evenly. "But I hope he’s human."

Their organization had confirmed that Mutated Beasts had infiltrated the city, but their knowledge of specific identities was sparse. Every time a member entered the city, they risked their lives. If not for Zhang Ping’s odd and suspicious behavior, Sisi wouldn’t have dared to approach him.

"However..." she added after a pause, "if my Life Talisman shatters tomorrow, proceed with detonating the Black Vault without hesitation."

The military-clad woman remained silent for a moment before speaking. "If you ask me, Zhang Ping is definitely a Mutated Beast. We should just take him out now."

"No. At the very least, I’m sure that night, his intent to kill was genuine," Sisi countered firmly.

The woman in uniform sighed as she stood, gazing at the Rat's body. "Let’s hope you’re right. At least he didn’t devour this stinking rat whole. Maybe he really is human."

"Let’s not linger here," Sisi said. The pair quickly disposed of the corpse and disappeared into the night.

The next morning, Zhang Ping rose early, his routine as disciplined as ever.

Today, he decided to attempt the "Doughsmithing Art" once more.

For the past two days, Zhang Ping had diligently consumed the Contract Gem every morning before starting his practice. He had shifted his training to dough-kneading exercises, which, while more exhausting than his usual workouts, provided tangible results. This progress drove him to abandon conventional training and focus entirely on honing his doughsmithing skills.

After swallowing the Contract Gem, Zhang Ping gathered the prepared ingredients and placed them into the furnace. Nearby, Liu Tiefeng smoked a cigarette, observing him closely.

Prepared for the furnace's intense heat, Zhang Ping steeled himself, refusing to back down as the temperature climbed. Gritting his teeth, he worked the ingredients, crushing and blending them with precision.

Suddenly, a sharp pain flared in his stomach, causing him to suck in a deep breath. To his astonishment, the furnace flames surged toward him, drawn like a stream of liquid, and entered through his nostrils. The warm energy traveled down his throat and settled in his stomach, leaving him invigorated. His kneading motions became noticeably smoother.

Another talent? Zhang Ping wondered, but he didn’t dare lose focus mid-process. He doubled down, pouring all his attention into his hands’ movements.

Liu Tiefeng watched silently. In Mingzhu City, Awakeners possessed all manner of strange abilities, and he was long accustomed to such oddities. However, a moment later, his expression shifted.

"The furnace temperature is too low. Add more firewood quickly," he instructed.

Realizing he had unintentionally absorbed too much heat, Zhang Ping freed one hand to stoke the flames with fresh wood. As the fire regained its vigor, he resumed his work, his focus unwavering.