Late September.
All the students from the Special Training Class gathered in the Beast Taming Arena, whispering amongst themselves.
Shen Wushuang walked in and announced: "In October, I'll be taking everyone to a Common-level Alternate Dimension—Frost Canyon!"
"Special reminder: Prepare all sorts of warm clothing! In an Alternate Dimension, you not only have to face powerful fierce beasts, but also adapt to harsh environments!"
Shen Wushuang's gaze swept toward the three students in the back row, Chen Shu and his friends, as he emphasized: "Don't bring any random junk."
Chen Shu coughed lightly and said, "Old Xie, Little Star—he's talking about you two. No bringing butcher knives or psychiatric hospital gowns."
"..."
The two turned their gazes on him in unison, looking at him like he had absolutely zero self-awareness.
"Class dismissed for today. Report back to school the day after tomorrow!"
Everyone cheered, faces lit with smiles and joy, eyes full of anticipation.
"Have you guys been to an Alternate Dimension before?"
The three put their arms around each other's shoulders, ready to discuss this properly.
"Nope."
Both Xu Xingxing and Xie Sunan shook their heads.
Chen Shu sighed. "You two really haven't seen the world."
Xu Xingxing went without saying—a typical rich kid who'd never personally go to an Alternate Dimension.
As for Xie Sunan, he only took missions within the city. He was just a reconnaissance-type Beast Tamer. Going into an Alternate Dimension? To shine "Love is a Ray of Light" on fierce beasts?
"You've been?"
The two looked at him with suspicion in their eyes.
"Ask around—whether Qingyuan Forest is chaos or calm, the Nanjiang Bandit decides!"
Chen Shu began boasting about his glorious exploits, especially peeing on the Ice Rabbit Lord's head—that could practically be called a legendary moment!
The two listened with jaws hanging open. While Chen Shu's mouth was often unreliable, the peeing incident—they actually believed that.
This kind of outrageous thing? No one but Chen Shu could pull it off.
"Chen Pi, so what should we bring?"
"Easy. Old Xie, you bring pots, pans, woks, ladles, and all kinds of seasonings. Better prepare a barbecue rack too!"
Chen Shu nodded slightly, adopting the air of a seasoned veteran.
Then he turned to Xu Xingxing and said, "Little Star, you don't need to bring anything. Just have your family hire a Silver-rank Beast Tamer, and we'll go massacre everything in the Alternate Dimension!"
"..."
"..."
The two stared at him as if looking at a complete idiot...
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow. "Don't believe your experienced senior?!"
Xie Sunan suddenly looked past Chen Shu and said, "Teacher Shen, what do you think?"
Chen Shu jolted. He spun around instantly, only to find Shen Wushuang staring at him expressionlessly.
"Don't worry, don't worry." Shen Wushuang patted Chen Shu's shoulder gently. "The Black-White Python is digging a pit."
"Huh?!!"
Chen Shu turned to run, but Shen Wushuang grabbed him instantly.
Seeing escape was hopeless, Chen Shu's face filled with bitter anguish. "Teacher, I was wrong..."
"Still talking about hiring a Silver-rank Beast Tamer? Why don't you just hire a Legendary Beast Tamer and clear out the entire Alternate Dimension while you're at it?"
Shen Wushuang's mouth twitched. He'd never seen such an absurd student.
"I actually... thought about it, but I'm afraid Little Star's family can't afford it."
THWACK!
Shen Wushuang gave him a sharp knock on the head. He really couldn't take it anymore.
"Once we're in the Alternate Dimension, act normal and don't drag everyone else down with you, got it?"
"Roger that, understood!"
Chen Shu nodded, the picture of obedience.
Shen Wushuang spoke again. "Prepare warm clothes, tents, sleeping bags, and the like."
Chen Shu sighed. He'd originally wanted Xu Xingxing to hire a bodyguard, but now that plan had gone up in smoke.
The three returned to their respective homes and began packing their luggage.
"Mom, Dad, I'm home!"
Chen Shu went to his room and began researching information about Frost Canyon.
Frost Canyon was located in the outskirts of Qingyang City. It was a Common-level Alternate Dimension, but its environment was considerably harsher than Qingyuan Forest.
"Year-round temperatures between zero and ten degrees Celsius. Can't believe I have to wear winter clothes in autumn."
While Frost Canyon's environment was rather harsh, it was at most equivalent to Blue Star's winter conditions.
If it were truly dangerous, Shen Wushuang definitely wouldn't take the Special Training Class there.
The truly deadly cold belonged to the Destruction-level Alternate Dimension in northern Huaxia: Extreme Ice Abyss!
Compared to that place, Frost Canyon was like a dwarf standing next to a giant.
Chen Shu summoned his Slime and fed it several bottles of green liquid—none other than Jump Potion.
Over the past month, he'd fed the Slime Jump Potion, Burst Speed Potion, and Intelligence Potion up to their limits.
The Jumping Fruit was purchased through the shop, while the main ingredients for the other two potions came through the Beast Tamer Association.
Not only was the purchase price far higher than market rates, but there were also processing fees to pay.
But with the trip to an Alternate Dimension coming up soon, improving his strength took priority.
Chen Shu had sold all the High-Grade Beast Orbs. His original three million yuan in savings had dwindled to just a few tens of thousands. At least the Slime's strength had improved somewhat.
"I should've known not to feed you Intelligence Potion..."
Chen Shu stroked the Slime's dopey face. Forty bottles of Intelligence Potion—completely useless...
Huff... huff...
The Slime continued sleeping, completely unresponsive to Chen Shu.
"Ah, I really envy you—getting to live like an idiot..."
Chen Shu packed his luggage. Warm clothes were definitely necessary.
He didn't want to be wearing short sleeves in freezing cold. What's the difference between that and running around naked?
Also, the urea bag was absolutely essential.
Chen Shu imagined someday converting it into a sleeping bag. That would kill two birds with one stone...
Similarly, he brought along a whole bunch of barbecue equipment and various seasonings.
His massive military backpack was stuffed completely full. Good thing Chen Shu was physically fit—an average person really wouldn't be able to carry this.
"Son, what are you packing?"
Chen Shu's father walked in. Suddenly spotting the Slime in the room, he cried out in alarm: "Holy crap, where'd this pile of crap come from?!"
"..."
The Slime happened to wake up just then. Its big eyes looked at Chen Shu's father with an aggrieved expression.
Before Chen Shu became a Beast Tamer, he'd always kept the Slime at home—at least it could decorate the place.
He never expected that after four months apart, his father wouldn't even recognize it...
Chen Shu continued packing his backpack and said, "Dad, what are you talking about? It's Little Yellow!"
"Little... Little Yellow?!"
His father's eyes went wide. He and the Slime stared at each other. The scene fell into awkward silence.
"Did you inject water into it or something? I've heard of water-injected pork, but never water-injected Slime..."[1]
"Give me a break. How could I inject water? Though Little Yellow does have plenty of water in its brain."
The Slime turned its dopey-eyed gaze toward Chen Shu.
Although it couldn't understand their conversation, it somehow felt like they were being rude...