Chapter 1: Dimension Paradise

【Deceased, welcome to Dimension Paradise.】

Chu Danqing opened his eyes abruptly. In the darkness, he saw glowing text before him.

"It seems I didn't make it."

"Well, that makes sense. I was crushed into meat paste; there's no way to survive that," Chu Danqing couldn't help but mock himself.

His death was an accident, caused by being crushed by a large specimen.

As a "three-no" person—no family or friends, no assets or debts, no enemies or grudges—there wasn't much to complain about upon dying.

His primary job was actually undertaking the production of replicas of mythological creatures for collectors.

This time, he had taken a large order, requiring him to use various animal bones, scales, and the like to manufacture a replica of a mythological Azure Dragon.

The client had even provided a blueprint, and then he had died in the accident.

Fortunately, he was a loner, so he didn't need to worry about relatives seeking compensation from this client; after all, it was his own negligence regarding safety that caused it.

【Deceased, are you willing to join Dimension Paradise?】

A new line of text appeared, accompanied by a countdown; there were only ten minutes left.

"Why choose me?" Chu Danqing looked at the text and the countdown, asking his question.

He didn't consider himself particularly special.

However, he didn't ask what would happen if he refused or what the outcome would be after the countdown ended; it would be nothing more than dying again.

【You possess the qualifications of a Dimension Apostle, reaching the Paradise's recruitment threshold, and you hold the??? -tier equipment: Four Spirits Diagram of Heaven · Broken (Already Recovered).】

【If you join Dimension Paradise, you will receive additional compensation during the preliminary trial.】

When Chu Danqing saw this, his eyelids twitched; he realized what the so-called "broken Four Spirits Diagram of Heaven" was.

It was the blueprint the client had given him to make the Azure Dragon replica, and its texture was an irregular piece of unknown fabric.

Its origin was unknown; it had lost all its power after being broken, which was how it ended up in his client's hands, and subsequently, it was treated as a design drawing for him.

Before he died, he was reviewing the Azure Dragon replica against the blueprint and was ready to finish the job when the accident happened.

He even suspected that he might just have been the courier packaging for the Four Spirits Diagram of Heaven, and Dimension Paradise had taken him along when they recovered it.

"The client is really unlucky to have run into something like this with me," Chu Danqing sighed. "I am willing to join."

Things had reached this point, and there was no turning back; he could either wait for death or join the seemingly decent Dimension Paradise.

At least it was a path to survival.

Just as he was about to ask what a Dimension Apostle did, a massive amount of data appeared before his eyes.

【Resurrection and remodeling in progress, initiating semi-digitization...】

【Please note, semi-digitization is for auxiliary use, only to intuitively express physical attributes and quality; it cannot be used as a complete reference.】

Then, the countdown refreshed, returning to ten minutes.

【This additional compensation is:】

【1: Evaluation +1 upon settlement】

【2: Guaranteed compensation】

【Please choose the guaranteed compensation as soon as possible. After ten minutes, you will begin the preliminary trial. If no choice is made within ten minutes, the first option will be selected for you by default.】

Chu Danqing did not answer immediately, but instead looked at the newly appeared lines of text.

They were the Apostle Panel, Mission Information, and Storage Space, with more following, but they were locked due to insufficient authority.

Therefore, he opened the Apostle Panel directly, which presented his semi-digitized attributes.

【Apostle Name: Chu Danqing】

【Apostle Number: Preliminary trial not completed, cannot obtain number】

【Attributes】

【HP: 100% (This attribute cannot be fully digitized; it will change according to physical state)】

【Mana: 25 (Base energy; current ratio is: Spirit Attribute × 5; current recovery efficiency is: 1 point per hour)】

【Strength: 5】

【Agility: 5】

【Constitution: 5】

【Spirit: 5】

【Perception: 5】

(Note: The standard attribute for a normal human is 5 points.)

Further down were Talents and Skills, but they were all empty.

That was normal, he thought; his attributes were so standard, indicating he was just a standard, normal human.

He was neither sub-healthy nor special; it wasn't a "ruined start," and he should be at the same starting point as a normal Dimension Apostle.

"So, what are my responsibilities?" Chu Danqing asked his question after reading.

【Humans possessing Dimension Apostle qualifications will travel to various dimensional worlds to execute missions after signing a contract with Dimension Paradise.】

【After completing a mission, the Paradise will provide corresponding rewards; after failing a mission, the Paradise will provide corresponding punishments.】

【Please note, Deceased, you have one last chance to ask a question.】

Upon hearing this, Chu Danqing understood his responsibilities; it was nothing more than changing his place of work, except this job would involve life-threatening danger.

From the reply, he realized one thing: he hadn't been interviewed for this job yet and needed to complete the so-called preliminary trial to be considered hired.

That was why Dimension Paradise had always referred to him as "Deceased," and no number had even been generated on his Apostle Panel.

He didn't ask his last question; he intended to use it on the guaranteed compensation.

There were two options, a combination of a skill and an item.

【1: Basic Summoning Studies + Basic Summoning Art + Type-I Standard Summoned Object Contract Scroll (Common Tier Item)】

【2: Mastery of Paleontology Summoning Studies + Paleontology Contract Scroll (Excellent Tier Item)】

(Note: Quality of equipment, items, materials, etc., is divided into: Common, Excellent... Authority insufficient.)

There were two directions for inquiry before Chu Danqing now: first, why were they both summoning-related, and second, why could Option 1 be ranked alongside Option 2?

Being able to appear together likely meant their values were equivalent.

If nothing went wrong, the Common Tier contract scroll was likely just a bonus, and those two basic skills were the true value.

After thinking for nearly two minutes, Chu Danqing asked his final question.

"Can I change to other skills and items?" Chu Danqing really didn't want these.

It was clear from the items that no matter which option he chose, he would need to find the summoned objects himself.

【Cannot be changed. Skills are converted and generated from the Deceased's professional knowledge. The two options are of equal value; please choose with confidence.】

Hearing this, Chu Danqing understood why they were such similar summoning types.

His university major was paleontology, a niche field.

The skills came from his professional knowledge; he didn't have anything else.

And it was likely that his most proficient professional knowledge was being combat-oriented to ensure his survival.

"Basic and Mastery are listed on the same line, excluding the Common Tier contract scroll."

"This means the combined value of Basic Summoning Studies and Basic Summoning Art is worth at least one Mastery plus half an Excellent Tier item."

"So these two skills themselves possess great value."

"I'll bet on it!" Chu Danqing chose Option 1 without hesitation.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 2 =====