Qin Zhao walked to the tree trunk with an easy expression, ignoring the many strange looks directed at her.
She tested the tree bark's resistance with her foot, then exerted force through all four limbs at once, quickly climbing up.
It's no exaggeration to say that even monkeys would have to call her "senior"!
An Hongyu watched Qin Zhao's figure and couldn't help letting his mouth hang open, stunned.
When he came to his senses and realized he had lost composure, he shifted his gaze away from Qin Zhao.
Staring at the rough tree bark in front of him, his fists clenched tightly, wishing he could punch the tree trunk to pieces, knocking Qin Zhao to her death, to relieve the gloom in his heart!
Unlike An Hongyu's surprise, Li Sheng started to panic.
The project he devised was meant to build up An Hongyu's fame.
But Qin Zhao's performance had already caused his plan to fail halfway!
However, he immediately thought of a solution.
Although Qin Zhao had won the tree climbing round, she would definitely lose to An Hongyu in weightlifting!
As long as he proposed an extra round later and discussed an event he was confident in with An Hongyu, the final winner would still be An Hongyu!
Thinking this, Li Ming's heart settled down a bit.
Sheng Xi looked up watching Qin Zhao's figure grow smaller as she rapidly climbed up. She couldn't help smiling to herself, realizing she had underestimated her!
At the same time, comments exploded on Star Network.
"Is this a normal human speed?!"
"I understand now. Qin Zhao is not human!"
"Thanks for reminding me, I was still kept in the dark."
"I suspect Qin Zhao was just pretending she couldn't take care of herself and could only rely on An Hongyu to survive before, in order to shock us now!"
"I admit that I have evolved from a hater to a Qin Zhao tree climbing fan!
As long as she keeps climbing trees, I'll keep supporting her!"
"Well, you might as well stop supporting her. She doesn't need fans like you."
...
Qin Zhao climbed to the treetop, about 90 meters high, and marked the spot.
Then she returned to the ground at an even faster speed!
The way people were looking at her was more like seeing a ghost than a person!
Xiao Mo pursed his lips and complained, "So you're actually a professional! Now I share the same thoughts as Elder Brother Bingzhe.
This competition is too unfair!"
Xiao Mo was An Hongyu's most loyal fan. By using the word "professional," he was trying to negate Qin Zhao's ability and lessen the shock she gave everyone.
Qin Zhao chuckled, "I'm no professional. This was my first time climbing a tree."
Qin Zhao did have related experience from previous task worlds, but it was indeed the first time for this body.
So her words were truthful.
At first, no one believed her.
Xiao Mo mocked, "Do you know what you're like?
You're like those hypocritical top students who stay up late studying but tell classmates they didn't even have time to review!
Luckily you've left our team. Dishonest people like you will only affect everyone's harmony!"
Qin Zhao looked at Xiao Mo with a smile that wasn't a smile, curious what inverted statements he could say next.
But then Tang Jiamao cried out, "Qin Zhao, your hand is bleeding!"
There was a tiny cut on Qin Zhao's hand from the tree bark.
She grabbed Qin Zhao's hand and touched it, saying, "Qin Zhao's hands are so soft!
Only hands that haven't done hard labor can be this soft.
I believe what she said!"
Where the audience couldn't see, An Hongyu looked at Tang Jiamao sinisterly.
He said, "Tang Jiamao, don't get close to her just because she has some skill.
You need to see the bigger picture and figure out who you should try to get on the good side of."
Frightened by An Hongyu's ferocious expression, Tang Jiamao let go of Qin Zhao's hand.
Xiao Mo immediately followed An Hongyu's lead and sneered, "You can tell just by feeling if her hands are soft?
We men who can't touch Qin Zhao have no way to know!"
Slap!
A clear slap rang out, making everyone shudder.
Slap!
Another seamlessly followed!
Five finger imprints appeared on Xiao Mo and An Hongyu's faces!
The two of them blanked, minds going empty.
Qin Zhao laughed. "Weren't you trying to verify if my hands were soft or not?
Why didn't you say so earlier?
Now you know, don't you!"
Everyone froze as the scene became silent except for the rustling sound of wind through leaves, proving that the picture wasn't frozen in place.
After half a minute, Chen Bingzhe from An Hongyu's team spoke up for them, "Qin Zhao, there are better ways to talk. Why resort to hitting people?"
He had just finished speaking when An Hongyu and Xiao Mo regained their senses and charged at Qin Zhao with bared teeth!
Qin Zhao cracked her knuckles, ready to fight. But just as both sides were about to clash, Sheng Xi spread her arms to shield Qin Zhao!
An Hongyu's fist stopped an inch from her eyes!
Unsure whether to continue his punch or withdraw his hand, he froze awkwardly midair!
He yelled angrily, "Sheng Xi, you're determined to oppose me, aren't you?!"
Sheng Xi said, "I didn't plan to oppose you by standing here. I just want to protect Qin Zhao."
Qin Zhao grinned from ear to ear and cockily raised her brows at An Hongyu.
An Hongyu's jaw muscles jumped from gritting his teeth so hard!
Reluctantly, he lowered his fist and told Sheng Xi, "Since you choose to gang up with Qin Zhao, don't blame me for being ruthless to you in the future!
This is the last time I'll tolerate you!"
At this time, An Hongyu's fans on Star Network started a new wave of verbal attacks on Qin Zhao!
"On what basis did Qin Zhao hit my brother?! Too excessive!"
"Waaah, brother An's face is all swollen from her hit! How hard did she slap?!"
"When she returns to the Blue Planet, I'll definitely protest outside their company to get justice for Hongyu!"
But there were also different comments:
"I'll weakly say that I feel Qin Zhao's slap was so cool! *Places pot and runs away*"
"You're not alone. I also think Big Sis Qin is awesome!"
"Haven't you noticed Qin Zhao's image took a 180 degree turn after leaving An Hongyu's team?
I can't even remember what she used to be like before."
"She's better now, more interesting. I can keep watching because of her."
...
Thanks to that slap, the number of viewers for Qin Zhao's livestream skyrocketed to 100,000!
The current viewer counts were:
Sheng Xi: 1.63 million, first place
An Hongyu: 970,000, second place
Tang Jiamao: 510,000
Zhang Youyuan: 450,000
Lin Rui: 320,000
Xiao Mo: 240,000
Chen Bingzhe: 190,000
Qin Zhao: 100,000
Yu Xiao: 80,000
On the Star of Huanggu, Li Ming urged everyone to move on to avoid more awkwardness. "Other guests should start climbing trees too!"
The results of the first round came out quickly.
As expected, Qin Zhao took first place.
She was followed by An Hongyu, Yu Xiao, Xiao Mo, Lin Rui, Sheng Xi, Zhang Youyuan, Tang Jiamao and Chen Bingzhe.
After tallying the data, Li Ming announced the start of the next round!
He had people bring over seven rocks ranging from 20 to 200 pounds.
Li Ming said, "The winner of this round is whoever lifts the heaviest rock!"