nycdaug Ch. 129 - Has It Started? It's Already Over[1]
Ch. 129 - Has It Started? It's Already Over[1]
The moment the group stepped into the Alternate Dimension, all they could see was an endless expanse of white.A gust of freezing wind hit them, and everyone shivered in unison.
"Holy crap! It's actually cold!"
Chen Shu hurriedly threw on his cold-weather gear.
Everyone else did the same, pulling out their insulated clothing.
Only then did Chen Shu take in his surroundings. It was another small village—but this one was blanketed in thick snow, like stepping into the depths of a northern winter.
Spirit Suppression Army soldiers patrolled constantly with their contract spirits, guarding against any sudden threats.
"Your jackets..."
Chen Shu glanced at Xie Sunan and Xu Xingxing. Xu Xingxing was wearing a bright red puffer jacket, while Xie Sunan had gone with green.
Standing together, the visual impact was... something else.
Chen Shu remarked, "Red and green together—uglier than dog farts!"
At that moment, Shen Wushuang spoke up.
"This training exercise lasts half a month. Don't venture too deep into the canyon, and don't go below five hundred meters—otherwise you risk encountering Black Iron-rank fierce beasts."
"Also, no solo missions. Based on your dorm assignments, you'll operate in three-person squads!"
"This expedition doubles as October's class competition. The team with the greatest haul takes first place—and wins Beast Taming resources worth two million yuan!"
His words sent a visible jolt through the students. Their eyes lit up with determination.
"Each team will have a Black Iron-rank Beast Tamer shadowing you. If your life is ever in danger, they'll intervene to save you."
"But that also means you'll be forcibly extracted back to the Spirit Suppression Army base—and your training ends immediately!"
Chen Shu nodded slightly. That was a reasonable arrangement.
Most of his classmates had never set foot in an Alternate Dimension. Without protection, their survival rate would be fifty percent at best.
"Now—the training officially begins!"
Shen Wushuang announced it loudly. The Special Training Class scattered, forming three-person squads and heading out of the village.
Xu Xingxing looked back. "Chen Shu, why aren't you moving?"
Chen Shu replied, "Are you dumb? Obviously we're flying. Where's your Thunder Bird?"
The other two finally remembered—this was an Alternate Dimension, not Blue Star. They didn't need to hold back anymore.
The Thunder Bird appeared instantly, carrying all three skyward.
"Higher! Go higher!"
All three were thrilled. Back in the city, they'd never dared fly this recklessly.
Snowflakes swirled around them. Heaven and earth were nothing but white.
"Today marks the beginning of our conquest of Frost Canyon!"
All three shouted together, unable to contain their excitement.
Screech!
In that instant, a Snow Eagle dove at them from above—razor-sharp talons gleaming, eyes filled with terrifying ferocity.
"Shit! Black Iron-rank fierce beast! Run!"
The trio froze, their heroic ambitions evaporating on the spot.
Blue light flashed in the Thunder Bird's eyes, and its speed exploded upward.
It wasn't the slightest bit fazed—even spat at the Snow Eagle above before diving down at full speed.
Moments later, the Thunder Bird was back at their starting position.
"What's going on with you three?"
Shen Wushuang stood there looking utterly baffled. They'd just left—what kind of operation was this?
Chen Shu pointed helplessly at the sky.
The Snow Eagle, provoked by the Thunder Bird's taunt, had flown into a rage and was diving straight toward the Spirit Suppression Army base.
But before it got within a thousand meters, several powerful contract spirits swarmed it. In a single breath, they tore it apart. Blood rained down like crimson droplets.
A truly fearless beast...
Shen Wushuang watched the blood fall from the sky. "Congratulations—your training is over!"
"..."
Chen Shu's lip twitched. "We haven't even started..."
"No need to start. It's already over!"
"Teacher Shen, give us another chance! You want us sitting around playing cards for half a month?"
Chen Shu hadn't expected the training to end this fast. Was this some kind of joke?
Shen Wushuang thought for a moment, then finally said, "Fine—one more chance. If something like this happens again, you're done!"
Even he hadn't anticipated their luck being this bad—running into a Black Iron-rank fierce beast directly above the base.
To the fierce beasts of the Alternate Dimension, the Spirit Suppression Army base was essentially a terrifying predator's territory. They normally wouldn't come anywhere near it.
Chen Shu spoke up. "Fly lower this time..."
The three regrouped and set off again, this time avoiding high altitude.
The Mutant Thunder Bird's speed was incredible, and its stamina was practically endless—a near-perfect mount.
The Spirit Suppression Army base sat in a small basin above the canyon.
Once they flew clear of it, the full view of Frost Canyon spread out before them—ice and snow covering everything, with fierce beast roars echoing from time to time.
Xu Xingxing asked, "Chen Pi, which way should we go?"
Chen Shu was about to answer when options appeared before his eyes.
---
[Option 1]: Say "Someone's always gonna be a slacker—why not us?" and hunt near the Spirit Suppression Army base the whole time.
Completion Reward: Large amount of Beast Taming Power
[Option 2]: Hunt within designated areas, follow the rules, be a good kid.
Completion Reward: Wind's Breath +1
[Option 3]: Go below five hundred meters into the canyon and survive for three days.
Completion Reward: Violent Sitting Kill +1
---
Chen Shu paused for a moment, then spoke without hesitation: "Take us straight to the bottom of the canyon!"
Xie Sunan's lip twitched. "I feel like that's not a great idea..."
Chen Shu replied, "It's fine. Xiao Xing's bird is fast—most Black Iron fierce beasts can't catch it."
Just from watching the Thunder Bird spit at the Snow Eagle earlier, it was clear that most Black Iron beasts couldn't keep up with it.
The three flew through the wind and snow, diving straight toward the depths of the canyon.
Chen Shu asked, "Old Xie, besides grossing people out, does your bug have any other uses?"
"What do you mean 'grossing people out'? It's spreading the radiance of love!"
He thought for a moment, then added, "Besides that, it can scan the surrounding area and mark specific fierce beasts!"
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow. "You can detect nearby fierce beasts?"
"Sure can. For example—there's a whole swarm of them directly below us right now!"
Chen Shu and Xu Xingxing both froze. The Thunder Bird instantly accelerated.
Ice balls came hurtling toward them, but the Thunder Bird reacted fast enough to dodge.
"Why the hell didn't you say something sooner?!"
Chen Shu looked down. A swarm of large insects with translucent shells stared up at the sky, their eyes filled with vicious fury.
It was a Frost Canyon staple: Ice Marrow Beetles!
"Those cocky bastards!"
Chen Shu immediately spotted rows of pristine snow lotuses growing among the beetle swarm.
Xu Xingxing piloted the Thunder Bird at full speed while asking, "Chen Pi, what's the call?"
"What's the call? We fight!"
At his words, the Mutant Thunder Bird immediately descended, landing on flat ground a thousand meters away.
Chen Shu summoned his Golden Slime. Its body instantly swelled, transforming into a massive behemoth.
"Crush them! Go absolutely crazy!"
The Slime activated Sleep Kill, and its defense skyrocketed.
The Charge skill engaged!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The Slime became a living missile, its momentum alone utterly terrifying.
Here in the Alternate Dimension, Chen Shu didn't need to hold back. However flat he could squash these fierce beasts—that's exactly how flat they were gonna get!
---
Translator's Notes:
[1] "Has it started? It's already over": A viral Chinese internet meme originating from a painless medical procedure TV advertisement, where the dramatic patient-doctor exchange became shorthand for any hilariously anticlimactic moment. The chapter title perfectly captures how the trio's grand training expedition ends in thirty seconds.