Chapter 29: Conflict Before the Trial Begins

【Preparatory Dimension Apostle No. 9999090919 begins trial】

【Yangxian Commandery】

【Trial Summary: Yangxian Commandery has received a blessed snowfall, yet this year of plenty remains uncertain in timing】

【Trial Task: Join one of the government, the Lu clan of the world, or the Taiping Dao within three days】

【Trial Difficulty: E-rank (Easy)】

【Trial Reward: Paradise Points ×500】

【Trial Failure: Paradise Points -1000】

【This is a chained task; subsequent tasks will unlock sequentially. Failure to complete any task renders all subsequent tasks failed】

【Hint: Do not leave the trial area arbitrarily, or trial difficulty may increase and other unknown consequences may occur. You bear full responsibility for such actions】

【Warning: Do not mention or reveal any information related to the Dimension Paradise during the trial, or your trial eligibility will be revoked, all tasks deemed failed, and you will be forcibly repatriated to the Paradise】

——

Chu Danqing opened his eyes. Da Bao stood beside him.

Besides the two of them, over a dozen other Dimension Apostles were enclosed within a transparent protective barrier, shielding them from the snow and wind.

Yet the temperature inevitably turned cold in an instant.

Chu Danqing tightened his white fur-lined robe, its inner lining woven with silver-scaled cloud-silk, temporarily insulating him from the chill.

【You unlocked: Combat Log, Equipment Rationalization Permission. Consumed Paradise Points ×1000】

【You consumed Paradise Points ×200 and mastered the language and script of this world】

Vast amounts of knowledge surfaced in his mind and were swiftly digested and absorbed, becoming as instinctive as his native tongue.

【You consumed Paradise Points ×500 to rent Detection Technique Lv.1】

【Temporary·Detection Technique Lv.1 (Active): Acquire data-driven information on a target based on attribute disparity. Consumes 1 energy point. Cooldown: 1 minute】

(Note: Temporary skills vanish upon leaving the trial)

(Note: When used, the target may sense anomalies or become aware due to attribute disparity)

Since the skill was temporary, no knowledge surfaced—Chu Danqing could only use it mechanically.

【Open Identity Selection】

【Identity: None. Cost: None】

【Identity: Displaced Refugee. Cost: Paradise Points ×10】

【.】

Chu Danqing directly scrolled down to the highest-tier identity: 500 Paradise Points.

【Identity: Wandering Sorcerer. Cost: Paradise Points ×500】

He immediately chose this identity; the others were decent but ill-suited to him.

Upon finalizing his identity, a small portion of information related to the Wandering Sorcerer flooded into his mind.

Not as deep or solid as the language mastery, merely a brief identity overview.

In short: a man with superficial magical knowledge come to Yangxian Commandery to make a living.

The entire process took nearly a minute. Chu Danqing turned his gaze to the other Dimension Apostles present.

Including himself, there were fifteen in total.

His gaze swept the group, and two individuals caught his attention.

One was a young man with a shaved head, clad in a short tunic and trousers, his face cold and stern, wearing golden-threaded dragon-patterned gloves.

The key detail was the unsettling aura surrounding him—a clear aura of “keep your distance.”

Not a killer, Chu Danqing inexplicably thought of “underground fighting.”

The other’s distinction was not his demeanor, but his equipment.

He wore fully sealed heavy armor, his back bearing a massive shield-axe.

Beside him stood three other ordinary Dimension Apostles; these four were likely a team, formed via some item or belonging to the same faction.

“I am Tieyan, Yubeiji member of the Longhu Alliance.” The armored man announced his faction and codename.

“An E-rank task at the start? Return eligibility requires at least a D-rank. Everyone here understands the difficulty—it won’t be easy to complete.”

“This is my seventh trial. I once achieved a C-rank evaluation. I can lead us all back safely.” Tieyan spoke earnestly.

The two others beside Tieyan immediately chimed in agreement. The remaining ten Apostles were swayed and voiced their willingness to follow Tieyan.

The shaved-head youth showed no reaction, silently watching the countdown on the protective barrier dwindle.

Five minutes remained before the trial officially began.

“Friend, why not join us?” Tieyan targeted Chu Danqing, the most approachable among them.

“I prefer to work alone.” Chu Danqing declined.

Even D-rank tasks are hard. Was he supposed to become their babysitter?

Yet this again confirmed the accuracy of the information: the typical Dimension Apostle’s level lies between C and D; high-rank individuals are rare.

After speaking, Chu Danqing turned his gaze back beyond the barrier. They seemed to be on a government road; the snow and wind were not heavy, but they obscured visibility.

He looked outside because movement stirred within the snow and wind.

His own attributes were too low to discern anything useful, so he turned to Da Bao: “What did you hear?”

“Bad people. Robbery. And killing.” Da Bao spoke haltingly.

Da Bao’s words drew the shaved-head youth’s gaze as well.

All had sensed movement, but none knew the details. Da Bao had named them outright—this alone made them take notice.

“He. Looked at me.” Da Bao’s eyes glinted with malice as he extended a claw toward one of Tieyan’s companions in the Longhu Alliance.

“Explain yourself, Tieyan.” Chu Danqing’s face darkened.

“A misunderstanding—a mistake. Han Ying didn’t mean it. Apologize right away!” Tieyan quickly shoved the man behind him.

Ostensibly an explanation, in truth a cover-up.

Using Detection Technique on another Dimension Apostle signaled hostility—why else would you scan their data-driven stats unless you meant harm?

“An apology lacks sincerity. Compensation is what matters.” Chu Danqing made it clear he wanted payment.

“Friend, we’re members of the Longhu Alliance. Even if you don’t respect us, respect the Alliance!” Han Ying invoked his faction’s name for protection.

Not for any other reason—he’d just probed Da Bao and found zero useful data due to the massive attribute gap.

“Shut up,” Tieyan snapped. “We have no intention of bullying with power.”

“A small compensation—no hard feelings.” Tieyan pulled out a recovery item and offered it to Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing shook his head. “Not enough.”

“Don’t push your luck,” Han Ying continued.

Before he could finish, Chu Danqing gave Da Bao a glance. Da Bao understood instinctively and struck immediately.

A life-link appeared, connecting Tieyan and Han Ying with lightning speed.

Da Bao’s attack followed instantly. The Combat Log flashed up.

【Brutal Beast·Son of the Cave deals 5 physical damage to target, 5 shared damage to linked target】

Both received damage, their HP dropping by different amounts.

Chu Danqing had no intention of killing them—only to extract payment, deliver a lesson, and make an example of them to deter others from provoking him.

As for Da Bao’s data? The attribute gap was too vast—they gained zero useful information.

Otherwise, Chu Danqing would never have let this go.

(End of Chapter)