Chapter 296: Tenth Place, Competition Expert

【Victory! Achieved 745 consecutive wins. You have received: Competition Points ×10, Rank upgraded to: 10】

【Your Title Combatant has been upgraded to Competition Expert】

【You have received: 1 Fine-grade equipment randomly matched to your system, Paradise Points ×1000】

“Next time, next time—I’ll fight again. The difficulty is really high.” Chu Danqing checked the time and realized he couldn’t continue; he needed rest.

Only three more battles remain; all that’s left is to challenge the #3, #2, and #1 ranked opponents in order.

Chu Danqing thought he needed to boost his strength further.

In the final battle, Murong Ying died, Xiong Zhigang lost half his body, and his troops suffered heavy casualties; only the combined efforts of the Pure Yang Heavenly General and the Yin Yin Mystic Maiden secured victory.

The world is teeming with heroes, as numerous as fish crossing a river.

With its massive population and abundant opportunities, countless strong individuals have emerged.

The next battle will require Guo Ming to take the field.

No rush for now; wait until the next mission returns, when Guo Ming’s strength has grown, and the odds will be better.

If he could break through to Rank 4, Chu Danqing could summon beyond his rank—truly wiping the battlefield clean in one strike.

“So, the next time I’m summoned will be during a war mission, right?” Xiong Zhigang asked.

Chu Danqing nodded: “Yes, so you must strengthen yourself as quickly as possible.”

“Actually, I have a humble request,” Xiong Zhigang said, slightly embarrassed.

“What humble request? Just say it—if I can do it, I will.” Chu Danqing was ready to promise anything, but he had to consider his own limits.

“In Yang Qianyuan’s trial world, there are spirit beasts, and he’s a regional prince. I need some military equipment and horse-type spirit beasts—but I have no money, so I must rely on your help, Master Chu.”

"But don't worry, Master Chu—I'll expand my influence once I return, and I'll make sure you don't get left behind." Xiong Zhigang knew his trial world was only reserve-class, the lowest tier.

He had nothing valuable to offer, so he could only beg shamelessly from Chu Danqing.

“This isn’t that I don’t want to help—it’s that I literally can’t,” Chu Danqing spread his hands. “To assimilate spirit beasts, you need a Purple Mansion. Without one, even if I gave you the beasts, you couldn’t use them.”

Chu Danqing spoke the truth; otherwise, he could have launched a spirit beast trading business.

"Even if I wanted to help, I couldn't get you enough Purple Mansion talent books," Chu Danqing said plainly.

Hearing this, Xiong Zhigang felt helpless.

He hadn’t realized there were prerequisites.

“Alright, then—” Xiong Zhigang was about to say more.

But Chu Danqing interrupted: “Here’s an idea—I’ll ask Yang Qianyuan to give you a small batch of military gear and horse-type spirit beasts first. See if you can tame them or control them through your class.”

“If it works, we can buy in bulk later. What do you think?”

Chu Danqing also thought it would be impressive if Xiong Zhigang’s troops could coordinate with spirit beasts.

“Very well, thank you, Master Chu,” Xiong Zhigang bowed.

Chu Danqing could only help this far; whether it succeeded was beyond his control.

He didn’t have the Army Lord class.

He could ask the Paradise, but he couldn’t afford the cost.

“Let me send you back,” Chu Danqing said, and dispatched him.

【You returned Alliance Partner #2. Reintegration cognition normalization complete. Duration: 3 hours. Cost: Paradise Points ×3】

After thirty straight days of fighting, only the first day had two extra battles; afterward, it was consistently three per day.

It wasn’t that Chu Danqing wanted to fight nonstop—it was that Xiong Zhigang and his troops were human, and they couldn’t endure such intense combat.

Even if they recovered after leaving the arena, too many battles still wore them down.

Also, Xiong Zhigang had other duties, and Chu Danqing needed to study and grow—he couldn’t stay glued to the arena forever.

Fortunately, selling three Basic Skill Crystals earned Chu Danqing 90,000 Paradise Points.

On average, it matched market rates.

“After subtracting 1,530 for alliance expenses and skill upgrades…” Chu Danqing’s gaze fell on his previously upgraded skills.

——

【Crimson Pact (Passive) LV.20→LV.MAX: For every 2% HP lost, summoned units gain +2% to all stats, stacking up to 20 layers】 (Paradise Points ×20000)

——

【Beast Companion (Passive) LV.20→LV.MAX: For each day a summoned unit stays by your side, gain +2% to all stats, stacking up to 20 layers】 (Paradise Points ×20000)

——

【Iron Wall Fence (Passive) LV.7→LV.MAX: When summoned units are out of combat, reduce damage taken by 10%】 (Paradise Points ×3000)

——

【Mangled Fury (Passive) LV.7→LV.MAX: When your HP falls below 90%, summoned units gain +5% critical rate and +30% critical damage】 (Paradise Points ×33000)

——

“I still have 23,000 Paradise Points left.”

“If I convert my last 10,000 Competition Points into Basic Skill Crystals, I should get another 30,000.”

“But for now, it’s enough.” Chu Danqing wanted to upgrade further, but his skills were already maxed with leftovers, and time was running out—he’d leave them for now.

He glanced again at the “Competition Expert” title—it offered modest bonuses.

【Title: Competition Expert: HP +1%, MP +1%, Five Attributes +1, Attack +1%, Defense +1%】

The percentage boosts meant little to Chu Danqing; only the five attributes offered real utility.

Fortunately, the title could still be upgraded further—the top-ranked “Competition King” must be powerful.

And he felt this title was more than it seemed.

Would all his effort to reach #1 be erased after a rank-up?

As for helping complete rank-up trials?

Any Adept who reached #1 could complete the trial regardless of bonuses.

“Fine, I’ll keep it for now—let’s see what this Fine-grade equipment is.” Chu Danqing looked—and found a pair of leather gloves.

【Elemental Spirit Gloves】

【Type: Equipment · Gloves】

【Quality: Fine】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Elemental Energy (Active): Consume 1000 MP to summon a random elemental spirit that grants all summoned units one buff (Fire: +10% Attack / Water: +10% HP Regen / Wind: +10% MP Regen / Earth: +10% Defense), lasts 10 minutes, cooldown 10 minutes】

【Elemental Charge (Passive): When an elemental spirit is present, summoned units have a 10% chance to restore 1 MP to you on attack】

【Elemental Reinforcement (Passive): When an elemental spirit is present, summoned units triggering MP recovery gain 1000 MP of corresponding elemental shield】

【Equipment Requirement: Spirit 25, Elemental Summoning Basics LV.MAX or Summoning Basics LV.MAX】

Chu Danqing glanced at it, then immediately equipped it and summoned.

As his MP dropped, the gloves shimmered with spiritual energy, forming a tiny, palm-sized fire elemental composed entirely of flame.

The fire elemental floated silently beside Chu Danqing, radiating warmth.

“Pure buff.”

“Oh, can also be used for lighting and warmth,” Chu Danqing thought further. “Could even block vision or intercept blades.”

“Wait—could a water elemental be drunk???” Chu Danqing suddenly spotted a blind spot.

Wind and earth were unclear, but water meant he could convert MP into drinkable water.

“Too bad—it’s random, and I have to refresh it every ten minutes,” Chu Danqing didn’t mind the 1000 MP cost, but the constant upkeep was annoying.

That’s why he preferred sustained-energy summons.

Still, the effect was solid—percentage bonuses mattered.

“Combined with the Spirit Princess Ring and the Agility passive, Spirit Blade Dance, plus the number of summons—I might overflow with MP.”

“If only I could share this efficiency with Da Gu,” Chu Danqing sighed.

Da Gu had high damage, but that was his only strength—everything else was pitiful.

If only he could reduce the chant and cooldown time of Bēi Huí Fēng, the other flaws wouldn’t matter.

That required upgrading legacy skills or finding suitable skill upgrades.

Compared to followers, permanent summons had this drawback: too many restrictions.

But permanent summons had advantages too: deeper bond than followers, and if you paid enough, you could resurrect them.

After all, permanent summons were extensions of the Adept—not independent beings.

Followers were different—they died, and stayed dead.

After finishing his preparations, Chu Danqing began purchasing resources.

Mainly high-grade food and consumables.

Like the Yecha Blood Tattoo once possessed by Da Bao.

Its energy had been fully depleted in the last trial world’s battle.

Previously, Chu Danqing didn’t need such things—he had his own buffs and healing.

But this time, entering a war mission for the first time, he’d be cautious.

【Rank 1 Dimensional Adept will enter the trial world to execute trial mission in one hour. Prepare accordingly.】

【Note: Next trial mission type is War Mission. Proceed with caution.】

【Tip: If the War Mission is completed, the Paradise will reimburse you for a certain percentage of reasonable expenses. Reimbursement rate: 100%】

【Tip: War Mission types vary; tasks will form according to the war world’s nature.】

Chu Danqing’s gaze sharpened; he bought a bowl of fish soup that temporarily boosted Strength, then turned and left.

After this round of spending, he used up 7,238 Park Points before stopping.

The amount was exact because after spending, exactly 15,700 remained—enough to buy an identity and language pack, plus a 15,000 emergency fund.

As for overspending, it didn’t matter—the Park would reimburse after mission completion.

The Park allowed Park Points to go negative.

But Chu Danqing couldn’t abuse this, since reimbursement required reasonable expenditures.

(End of Chapter)