Chapter 80: Emphasis of Task Types

The remaining time, Chu Danqing spent very fully, aside from necessary study, cultivation, and training Dabao, he devoted himself to offering to the Snake Spirit and nurturing it.

After making offerings, the Snake Spirit’s recovery improved significantly, transforming from its previously listless state to one full of vigor.

Moreover, it could now leave the Divine Casket and move within the shrine, greatly expanding its previous range of motion.

But that was all—it could not leave the shrine no matter how much further it recovered, lacking a physical body.

Only after becoming a Baojia Immortal could it relocate into Chu Danqing’s body, unless Chu Danqing later provided corresponding cultivation.

Until the Paradise trial prompt arrived, interrupting Chu Danqing’s routine.

【Preparatory Acolytes will enter the Trial World to execute trial tasks in one hour; please prepare in advance.】

Chu Danqing had nothing to prepare, since he was a Summoner and did not engage in direct combat.

But he hadn’t expected another Paradise prompt to appear after the trial notice.

Preparatory Acolyte using directional arrival information: I am Xiongquan, arriving at Acolyte Plaza. Seeking cooperation.

“Xiongquan actually bothered to send me a message?” Chu Danqing’s face showed surprise.

Preparatory Acolytes had no dedicated communication channel—they only gained one upon reaching Rank 1.

But Paradise wasn’t entirely heartless; if someone truly wished to contact another, they could spend one thousand Paradise Points to send a message.

But conditions applied: one needed partial information about the recipient.

For example, having shared the same trial world in the previous mission would automatically filter eligible senders.

Chu Danqing could have contacted Xiongquan too, but why would he reach out without cause?

“Then let’s see what this is about.” Chu Danqing slung the shrine over his back, grabbed Dabao, and headed straight for Xiongquan’s coordinates.

Upon arrival, Chu Danqing immediately spotted Xiongquan, who stood beside a boy.

“What kind of cooperation?” Chu Danqing did not ask bluntly.

“Escort,” Xiongquan pointed to the youthful boy and said, “Price.”

Chu Danqing sized him up and refused outright: “No time.”

He still had to care for the Snake Spirit—he had no room for another burden.

“Why don’t you take him yourself?” Chu Danqing countered.

If this were truly a good deal, wouldn’t Xiongquan have taken it himself instead of acting as a middleman?

“My next trial is a promotion exam—I can’t take him,” Xiongquan said bluntly. “I’m earning a commission.”

“Oh, then find someone else,” Chu Danqing replied, then turned and walked away.

“Fifty thousand Paradise Points,” the boy said immediately.

Chu Danqing’s eyes narrowed: “No time.”

Someone who could afford this price wouldn’t need an escort—this clearly had problems.

“Last one left. Seems no one wants you. Find someone else,” Xiongquan said without hesitation, seeing Chu Danqing’s swift refusal.

“Still got time. Want to chat?” Chu Danqing extended an invitation.

Xiongquan nodded, and the two headed toward a nearby cold drink shop.

“What’s his situation?” Chu Danqing asked.

“A deceitful fool pretending to be weak, luring greedy Acolytes with bait,” Xiongquan didn’t hide anything.

Chu Danqing’s eyebrow twitched—he was glad he believed no pies fell from heaven.

“Too bad you didn’t take it; you’d have gained something, and I’d have earned a commission,” Xiongquan didn’t think Chu Danqing had been tricked.

The winner would be Chu Danqing, not the boy.

The cooperation implied Xiongquan and Chu Danqing teaming up to swindle the boy.

After all, bait needed a trap—the boy did have some wealth.

“I’m curious—how did you gather enough Faction Contribution?” Chu Danqing asked.

“Through side quests. And how did you get help from the Trial World’s natives?” Xiongquan countered.

In the final days, he’d gathered intelligence and learned part of what happened after his escape.

“By doing good deeds and hidden quests,” Chu Danqing answered honestly, then asked: “What are side quests like?”

He knew that besides standard trial tasks, there were three other types: side, hidden, and chain quests.

Chu Danqing had only triggered hidden quests, and chain quests had always been layered atop trial tasks.

Xiongquan ignored Chu Danqing’s mention of “doing good deeds.”

In his view, persuading so many people to do good deeds was implausible—it was far more likely due to hidden quests.

“Side quests are branching supplements to trial tasks; their difficulty and rewards fluctuate based on the trial task. How do you trigger hidden quests?” Xiongquan pressed on.

Hearing this, Chu Danqing understood the reason.

He hadn’t explored his trial tasks deeply, so he’d never triggered a side quest.

“Given by natives or triggered in real time,” Chu Danqing added—this was indeed his insight into triggering hidden quests.

After all, the two hidden quests he’d obtained in the last trial world had felt like free gifts.

Upon hearing this, Xiongquan felt a suffocating pressure in his chest.

“How do you trigger side quests?” Chu Danqing asked again.

“You’ve never triggered one???” Xiongquan had been about to ask something, but Chu Danqing spoke first—and the question drained all his pent-up frustration.

“No, I don’t pay much attention to trial tasks,” Chu Danqing said. His current trial tasks were mostly completed through his network of connections.

He’d chosen his Faction upon joining; subsequent tasks were handled through relationships.

“I get it. Your approach differs from mine,” Xiongquan had no intention of copying Chu Danqing’s methods.

What suits another doesn’t necessarily suit oneself.

“Side quests form around trial tasks—you must explore the trial task deeply to trigger them,” Xiongquan continued.

The two exchanged words for about half an hour before parting ways.

Chu Danqing now understood side quests well and planned to test them in the next trial world.

Xiongquan also gained much—he learned how to trigger hidden quests.

As for chain quests, neither had triggered any beyond the basic chain-type trial tasks.

“Compared to hidden quests, side quests seem easier to trigger,” Chu Danqing mused: “And they emphasize different things.”

“Hidden quests delve into background and hidden threads.”

“Side quests follow the existing narrative path.”

“Rewards are roughly similar—once difficulty rises, both yield rich rewards.”

In Chu Danqing’s view, the two weren’t vastly different.

But danger levels differed: hidden quests were more dangerous and harder.

Xiongquan, pursuing side quests, faced enemies within manageable limits.

Chu Danqing, pursuing hidden quests, had once fought Bai Yao alongside Xiongquan—nearly costing him his life.

(End of Chapter)