Just as the trio was accepting their mission, a voice rang out.
"Well, well! Look who it is! In a hurry to reincarnate, are we?"
A large man in black crossed his arms over his chest, eyeing the three with amusement.
Chen Shu turned around, momentarily stunned, but quickly remembered.
It was Huang Wei—the rival of Zhou Shi's Beast Taming Corps. Chen Shu had once "shown him some colors" back in the day.
"Yellow Weasel Bro! It's you! Haven't seen you in two months—you've really let yourself go, huh?"
Huang Wei's lip twitched. You're the fucking weasel!
His eyes narrowed, anger seeping into his voice. "Kid, your mouth is still as bratty as ever!"
Chen Shu put on a humble expression. "Nothing special—just third in all of Nanjiang."
Huang Wei sneered. "What a coincidence—I'm heading to Frost Canyon too. Zhou Shi won't be there to protect you!"
Just as he turned to leave, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
"Hm? You?!"
Huang Wei froze, looking at the stern-faced man before him.
Shen Wushuang's expression was calm. "What's this? Planning to bully my students?"
The trio hadn't expected to run into Shen Wushuang here.
But it wasn't really a coincidence at all. Shen Wushuang simply didn't trust these three idiots and had been secretly tailing them the whole time.
"Shen Wushuang?!"
Huang Wei stiffened, the name instantly clicking in his mind.
"Good that you know me. Don't get any funny ideas!"
Shen Wushuang nodded slightly, then said warmly: "Otherwise I'll bury you in Frost Canyon."
"..."
Huang Wei glanced back at Chen Shu, then finally nodded and left.
There weren't many Common-level Alternate Dimensions near Nanjiang City, so powerful Beast Tamers in the area generally knew of each other.
Shen Wushuang was one of those who commanded respect.
He'd originally founded his own Beast Taming Corps, which had boasted three Black Iron rank Beast Tamers. In Common-level Alternate Dimensions, they'd been quite renowned.
But then they'd encountered a Beast Tide. Most of his team died.
He had no choice but to disband the corps and settle into his role as a Special Training Class teacher.
Though his corps was gone, Shen Wushuang's reputation still carried weight among the various Beast Taming teams.
Chen Shu gave him a thumbs up. "Teacher Shen, that was badass!"
Shen Wushuang frowned. "You three are stirring up trouble again, aren't you? Why would you go provoking a Black Iron Beast Tamer out of nowhere?"
Chen Shu explained: "Honestly, it wasn't us. Just some old beef. Who knew this guy would hold a grudge this long?"
He'd assumed he'd never run into Huang Wei again. And yet here they were, only on his second trip to an Alternate Dimension.
As Shen Wushuang drew closer, he immediately spotted the mission the trio had accepted.
"You three really think you've lived long enough?"
Shen Wushuang's eyes went wide. Even he wouldn't dare take on a Lord-level Frost Giant Wolf.
And three trainee Beast Tamers were eyeing it?
Chen Shu explained: "We're just accepting it for fun."
Then he followed up with another question: "Teacher Shen, could you beat a Black Iron-rank Lord beast?"
After all, Fang Si had once beaten the hell out of the Black Beetle Lord.
"I couldn't kill one!" Shen Wushuang shook his head. "If you really want to accept missions, pick some ordinary ones—like gathering herbs or hunting common fierce beasts."
The trio nodded. Shen Wushuang had said he couldn't kill it, not that he couldn't fight it. That meant he could at least hold his own.
Little did Shen Wushuang know that Chen Shu was already scheming to use him as their tank.
The three browsed the mission board again and ultimately accepted two: [Collect Ice Leaf Flowers] and [Hunt Roaring Lions].
The first-place prize from the class tournament had been organs from a Variant Roaring Lion, which could potentially grant the skill "Battle Roar." But Chen Shu had traded it for a Beast Taming Pearl instead.
"Let's go."
The trio left the Mission Hall with Shen Wushuang.
Chen Shu spoke up: "Xiao Xing, your family's so rich—how come they haven't customized any attack skills for your Thunder Bird?"
The Frost Giant Wolf hunting mission was clearly posted by someone wealthy, aiming to comprehend the wolf's innate skill.
Xu Xingxing replied matter-of-factly: "It already has three custom skills."
"..."
Even Shen Wushuang turned to stare in surprise.
"Evil rich people! I'm out!"
The four of them wandered around Ice Valley Town. Each frontier town outside an Alternate Dimension had its own unique features, leaving them dazzled.
Of course, Shen Wushuang had seen it all before. He just tagged along to keep an eye on these strangers' safety.
Chen Shu suddenly asked: "Teacher Shen, do you think I could get into Huaxia Academy?"
"You?"
Shen Wushuang paused, caught off guard by the question.
He thought for a moment and said diplomatically: "There's a chance."
"Is it because of my contract spirit?" Chen Shu could hear the hesitation in his tone.
He pressed further: "Has there ever been a case of an F-rank contract spirit holder getting accepted into Huaxia Academy?"
Shen Wushuang frowned. He didn't want to crush his student's hopes, but the kid could easily look it up online anyway.
He shook his head, preparing to offer some words of comfort.
But to his surprise, Chen Shu's expression shifted—into excitement.
Shen Wushuang asked: "Why are you so happy about that?"
Chen Shu grinned. "No precedent is exactly what I want! Otherwise, how would I prove my worth?!"
"You... you're certainly confident..."
"Don't blame the road when your legs won't work!"[1]
Chen Shu smiled, patting Shen Wushuang on the shoulder. "Miracles are made by people. As long as you work hard, there's always hope, right?"
"Did you get possessed or something?"
Shen Wushuang's eyes went wide. He reached out and felt Chen Shu's forehead. You being all positive and inspirational—doesn't that feel wrong to you?
Besides, I was about to comfort YOU. How did you end up comforting ME?
The four continued chatting and joking as they explored every corner of Ice Valley Town.
---
Xu Xingxing couldn't help but complain: "Can you believe how stingy the school is? Three people to a room!"
Xie Sunan was equally indignant. "Exactly! And it's not even co-ed!"
"What are you even thinking?"
Chen Shu's lip twitched. At least the hotel rooms were decent-sized, and they'd added an extra bed.
"Once we're in the Alternate Dimension, you follow my lead! Frost Canyon, tremble at the feet of Chen Shu!"
Chen Shu laughed grandly—and was immediately met with the universal one-finger salute from both companions.
---
Early the next morning.
Shen Wushuang came to wake them up.
Chen Shu yawned. "Teacher Shen, do we really have to be up this early?"
"The whole class is already assembled! You three are the only ones missing!"
The trio quickly washed up, grabbed their backpacks, and headed down to the hotel entrance.
The other twenty-one students had been waiting. The moment the three appeared, all eyes turned toward them.
Chen Shu noticed many had dark circles under their eyes—clearly they hadn't slept well.
After all, it was their first time. A bit of nervousness and excitement was only natural.
Not everyone had the same ironclad nerves as these three.
"Let's move!"
Shen Wushuang led the class toward the back of town.
Passing Beast Tamers cast envious glances their way. Anyone who could train in an Alternate Dimension was elite—their futures far brighter than most.
Deep in the town stood a large building, surrounded by thick fog that refused to dissipate.
The group bypassed the admission fee and headed straight into the Alternate Dimension.