Chapter 21: Return

Guo Ming did not know whether Da Bao’s decision was right or wrong.

He was certain of one thing: Da Bao was no match for the Fallen Flower Woman.

If Bai Longyu and the Cave Shaman were elite monsters, then the Fallen Flower Woman was unquestionably a boss.

Guo Ming had seen with his own eyes a pale, slender female arm emerge from the muddy grease, effortlessly shattering Da Bao’s claws.

It completely overwhelmed Da Bao in both strength and agility.

Da Bao’s health, originally at 100%, dropped instantly to 65%.

At once, Da Bao activated the active effect of his Wolf Fang Necklace, and a wolf spirit appeared, letting out a howl.

This was something Guo Ming had given Da Bao; left in his hands, a one-second stun was of little use.

But for Da Bao, it was crucial.

The wolf spirit’s howl produced visible ripples that struck the muddy grease, causing it to pause briefly before recovering.

It only delayed the enemy for an instant—never even reaching the full second—and the enemy moved again.

Guo Ming was not surprised; Dimension Park had warned him from the start that actual duration would fluctuate based on enemy strength, equipment, and other factors.

Just because it was described as one second didn’t mean it would last exactly one second—if it did, it would be a conceptual ability.

What could a pair of teeth from an old wolf and a crippled wolf possibly accomplish?

Taking advantage of that moment, Da Bao quickly retreated, trying to buy as much time as possible.

What happened afterward, Guo Ming did not see—he had already turned and run.

As long as he wasn’t dead, he could revive Da Bao again.

He hadn’t just fled blindly; he kept constant watch on Da Bao’s attribute panel.

After roughly fifteen seconds, Da Bao took another hit, his health plunging from 65% to 25%, entering a frenzy state.

One more strike like that, and Da Bao would die.

Fortunately, the long thirty-second countdown finally reached zero.

【The deceased has completed the Reserve Trial Mission and is beginning regression.】

Guo Ming’s vision blurred, and the surroundings shifted.

【Transport complete. Reserve Adept has returned to Adept’s Personal Space.】

【Adept’s Personal Space is an absolute safe zone; other Adepts cannot enter without permission.】

【You have unlocked Adept ID: 9999090919】

Registration complete. Beginning settlement of this Reserve Trial Mission.

【Trial Area: Xianghua Village】

【Trial Difficulty: F (Extremely Easy)】

【Additional Compensation active. Final Evaluation +1】

【Comprehensive Evaluation: A】

【Rewards obtained: Park Coins ×5000, Attribute Points +2】

【Detected permanent summon: Savage Beast · Child of the Cave—vital signs unstable. Initiate repair?】

“Open it. Open it now,” Guo Ming said, watching Da Bao, driven mad by frenzy, lunging at him—if he waited another second, Da Bao would have torn him apart.

Dimension Park acted swiftly: mid-air, Da Bao was bound by a beam of light, and strange light particles streamed along the beam into his body, repairing his wounds.

“My comprehensive evaluation is kind of embarrassing—everyone else starts with at least SSS, and I barely got a B,” Guo Ming muttered self-deprecatingly.

He only got an A thanks to the compensation bonus.

But he wasn’t truly surprised; during the entire trial, he hadn’t accomplished anything remarkable.

He guessed that to reach A rank normally, he’d have had to kill Bai Longyu and all its offspring without external aid.

That part was done before he bonded with Da Bao; Guo Ming had some credit, but not much.

Next, Da Bao might have needed to be killed after his Cave Transformation—yet Guo Ming directly bonded with him, so this part was likely perfect.

【Repair complete. Cost: Park Points ×550】

Charging fees didn’t surprise Guo Ming; after becoming a Reserve Adept, he unlocked many new permissions and gained corresponding Park knowledge.

For example, leaving his personal room led to the Park Plaza, where Adepts could trade and buy.

There were also special buildings—for attribute point allocation, skill upgrades, stat enhancements—all required to be accessed within these structures.

He also had thirty days of rest; after thirty days, he would re-enter a trial world to complete another mission.

“I’m alive,” Da Bao said, staring at his hands, feeling it unreal.

When he returned, his left arm had been severed at the root, half his face shattered, with multiple fractures and missing flesh.

He survived only thanks to his Blood Fury ability and his 9-point Constitution.

“Rest for now. I’ll open the Cave Shaman’s chest, then we’ll head to the Plaza,” Guo Ming said, curious but not in a hurry.

【You opened: Chest (Excellent Rank). Obtained: Hatred of the Flesh-Eater, White Fleece Robe, Park Points ×2500】

——

【Hatred of the Flesh-Eater】

【Type: Equipment · Longsword】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Attack: 15~20】

【Blood Kin’s Wail (Passive): Deals an extra 10 damage on attack】

【Equipment Requirement: Strength 10, Constitution 10】

——

【White Fleece Robe】

【Type: Equipment · Robe】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Defense: 10】

【Beast Ritual (Passive): Max Energy +10】

【Equipment Requirement: None】

——

“Huh?” Guo Ming stared at the rewards from the Excellent-rank chest, utterly at a loss.

He had never imagined getting so many rewards—wasn’t it supposed to be just one green item plus 1000 Park Points?

“The Cave Shaman was strong, but not that strong.”

“So it must be due to kill contribution or participation rate?” Guo Ming compared the Bai Longyu chest with the Cave Shaman’s chest.

When killing Bai Longyu, Da Bao was a native, and other villagers had helped.

But the Cave Shaman was killed entirely by him alone; his summon was part of the Adept.

“Can you use it?” Guo Ming handed the Hatred of the Flesh-Eater to Da Bao.

Da Bao shook his head: “No. My claws work better.”

“Then we’ll sell it,” Guo Ming said, unbothered—he couldn’t use it either; the sword’s requirements were even higher than Ma Shuo’s.

“Then we’ll find someone to sew the Yunlin Jade Brocade lining into the White Fleece Robe.”

The White Fleece Robe was clearly for Guo Ming’s own use; Da Bao couldn’t equip it—he could only use specific gear.

As for who to find, no worry: Dimension Park’s Park Knowledge had explained that besides Adepts, there were Life Adepts.

They specialized in life skills, originating from three sources: directly recruited for unique talents, Adepts voluntarily switching roles, or failing trials too many times, accumulating negative Park Points or total five-attribute sum below 10.

Life Adepts did not participate in trials and never left Dimension Park; they faced no life threat.

The cost: they served Dimension Park for life.

(End of Chapter)