You Call This Difficulty Training? / Opening the Eye of the Deep

She believes that Raven are a little more reserved in front of children.

But in reality, when the Raven kissed the Flame Willow in front of the children, the children immediately erupted in thunderous cheers and jeers, interspersed with urgings such as pushing the Reed sister down.

Flame Willow didn't know if Raven would actually believe these enticements, but she certainly did.

After all, she had never had a partner before or after transmigrating, and she knew her own body well. She had almost collapsed to the ground when Elysia grabbed her tail before. If it really happened... Flame Willow couldn't even imagine what she would become.

However, Raven didn't seem too keen on such a stimulating proposal, but seeing that she was somewhat tempted, Flame Willow felt that it was only a matter of time.

So, Flame Willow, relegated to the bottom of the food chain, decided to vent its frustration on the next level down, namely Anna.

At least in front of Anna, she could still be a little tougher. When Anna was facing her, even if she was made some strange jokes, Anna would just blush and run away instead of directly pinning her against the wall and asking her if she wanted to try it.

However, what she didn't know was that Anna and Raven's relationship was progressing much faster than she had imagined. In Raven, because Raven often talked to Anna about Flame Willow, Anna had already included Raven in her list of good friends.

After Flame Willow's repeated teasing, Anna decided to go to her good friend Raven to ask if there was any way to deal with Flame Willow's harassment...

People's joys and sorrows are not shared. While Flame Willow was still in dire straits, Xia Ling chose to let others enter into dire straits.

As early as when Yae Sakura had just mastered the Stigmata Space, Xia Ling applied for an area within it, and then, with Xi's help, produced a detailed set of blueprints and designs, which she handed over to Yae Sakura.

To prevent Yae Sakura from misunderstanding her meaning, she even had Rin extract a portion of her memories and give them to Yae Sakura, ensuring that the training ground's layout was authentically preserved.

Then he received a look from Yae Sakura that seemed to regard him as a newborn.

"Excuse me... is this the execution ground intended for?"

Yae Sakura asked tentatively.

"How can you say that? This is clearly the training ground I prepared for my dear students."

Xia Ling's smiling face sent a chill down Yae Sakura, and she silently mourned for the little ones who would use this device in the future.

However, this future doesn't seem too far away.

A few days later, Xia Ling brought the three little ones to the Stigmata Space.

"Wow, is this Yae Village? It's so beautiful!" Kiana exclaimed.

"Idiot Kiana, Sister Xia Ling said that this was a renovation that Sister Yae Sakura referenced from many places, so it will definitely be decorated beautifully."

"Alright, alright, you two don't need to bicker every time you change places," Mei, trying to smooth things over as usual.

"By the way, Sister Xia Ling, didn't you say you were going to lead us in training? Where are we going to train?"

Kiana looked around but didn't see any facilities that resembled a training ground.

After all, this place looks antique and doesn't look like a training place at all. If it weren't for the fact that this is the Stigmata Space, Kiana would be afraid that she would be accused of damaging cultural relics if she wasn't careful.

"Don't worry, don't worry, we'll be there soon."

Xia Ling led the three of them into the Tenshukaku with a smile. At this time, Yae Sakura had been waiting at the entrance of the Tenshukaku for a long time.

"We've reached the highest point in Yae Village — the Tenshukaku!"

Xia Ling stepped aside from the door behind her, revealing a floating screen that seemed out of place with its surroundings.

Don't ask, the answer is technology erosion.

"Come on, this is the training system I've prepared for you."

The three of them went over and saw a UI with icons and a list on the screen. Above this system, which looked like a difficulty selection system, was a line of small text.

Challenge Contract - Operation Crimson Sakura.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: You call this level of difficulty training?

"Challenge Contract? What's that?"

"Good question. This is the exam you will be working on for the next six months."

Xia Ling said calmly, "Let's put the origin of the name aside for now. Considering that Kiana has been saying recently that I can't do anything, I plan to increase the intensity of your training and give you some special training."

"The system you are in front of now is the training system I have prepared for you."

"But how do you use this thing?"

Looking at the option [Hi-maru: Crimson Fire], Kiana tried to click on it.

"Wait! Don't be in such a hurry." Xia Ling quickly stopped Kiana's reckless behavior.

"Let me introduce this system first, then you can make your choice."

"First, when you enter the Tenshukaku, a projection will be generated that matches your physical condition. Then, the area will automatically change into a fixed scene. After that, a fixed number and type of monsters will appear in a fixed order."

"Once you clear out all the monsters on the field, you've successfully completed the challenge."

"And this tag system in front of you is used to increase the difficulty. Selecting the corresponding tag will give the monsters a fixed boost."

"Each entry has a level, and my requirements for you are... not high. Before September, you just need to reach level 18."

"Level 18? Doesn't sound that difficult."

Kiana glanced at it and found that the total level of the entries seemed to be over thirty.

"A mere half level? Hmph, just wait and see how I beat you to the maximum level."

"So, Sister Xia Ling, what are the enhancement effects corresponding to these terms?"

Bronya clicked on an entry and found it to be completely empty.

Upon hearing this, Yae Sakura sighed and rubbed her forehead.

This is the most fundamental point Xia Ling has come up with in the entire system: to know the effect of an entry, you have to try it out first.

"Well... you'll see when you try it."

Xia Ling smiled mysteriously, "However, I suggest you try it out without clicking on any entries first."

"Then let's listen to Sister Xia Ling for now." Mei decisively grabbed Kiana's restless little hand to prevent her from doing something drastic.

Xia Ling's smile was all too familiar to her; whenever Xia Ling flashed that smile, someone was definitely going to be in trouble. But this time, it seemed like they were the ones who were going to be unlucky.

With trepidation, the three of them entered the gates of the Tenshukaku.

"Level 18..." Yae Sakura, who hadn't said much until now, spoke up, "Isn't this difficulty a bit too high...? The strength of those three doesn't seem to be enough to challenge this level."

"Yae Sakura, you have to trust in human intelligence. By combining different keywords, they might be able to find a way to skip class and play."

Xia Ling didn't seem worried at all. "Besides, I don't plan to let them actually pass the level. As long as they achieve the goal of improving their strength, that's enough. After all, apart from Bronya, the other two of them still lack practical combat experience, and neither of them has any experience fighting strong enemies."

"Is this your reason for assigning four Level 3 keywords to the projection of Hi-maru?"

Yae Sakura looked at the four red exclusive entries in the entry system, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

She was certain that these three people would fall into the same trap she had fallen into before, trying to focus all the keywords on Hi-maru in order to solve the problem all at once.

"Speaking of which, what level have you managed to complete the game so far?"

Xia Ling suddenly thought of something and asked curiously.

"Without using Kishinuma, I'd probably only reach level 33." Yae Sakura pondered for a moment, then said somewhat uncertainly, "But if I use Kishinuma... I should be able to barely reach the maximum level."

"Wow, you seem to be a bit better than me. After all, I can't even reach the maximum damage output myself. After leveling up the level 35 Hi-maru skill range attribute, my survival space is almost compressed to the limit. If I try to force it... I probably only have less than a one percent chance."

Just as the two were chatting, the gates of the Tenshukaku suddenly opened.

"Haha, that's all?" Kiana swaggered out, "This big fox looks intimidating, but it's actually just like an ordinary Temple-class Honkai Beast. I took care of it easily."

"If we only consider the level 0 scenario, this Challenge Contract... Bronya doesn't think it's too difficult." Bronya's assessment was much more rigorous.

"I feel like my sword is going to get dull from all that hacking at Honkai Beast..." This is Mei, who is in charge of clearing out the smaller monsters.

"Since you're so confident, why don't you click on the entry and give it a try?"

Xia Ling prompted.

"Okay, let me see..."

Kiana paused in front of the screen for a moment, then decisively abandoned her speculation.

"This looks like a lot of trouble. I might as well just pick randomly. This one, this one, and this one—I'll max them all out!"

Xia Ling leaned over to take a look and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for them.

[Honkai Energy Environment: Activity III - All enemies' Honkai Energy reserves increased by 200%.]

[Anti-Cluster III: Increases the attack speed of all enemies by 60%.]

[Honkai Energy Environment: Stimulation III - All enemy attack power increased by 160%.]

[Objective: Covert Operation III - Reduce the defense of all friendly units by 90%.]

[Hi-maru: The HP requirement for the Cursed Prison Stone to release the Life-Slaying Stone has decreased, and the number of Life-Slaying Stone can be increased.]

[Hi-maru: Yae Blazing Wall- Reduces the charge time for releasing Yae Blazing Wall and increases its range to the entire field.]

"Uh... Yae Sakura, guess how long it will take for them to come out using this method?"

Yae Sakura glanced at the entry and immediately started to lose her composure.

"If they don't underestimate their opponents... they can probably hold out until Hi-maru enters his first berserk state."

"However... that possibility is obviously unlikely."

Before she finished speaking, Mei's figure had already staggered out of the Tenshukaku.

"Ah?"

Mei scratched her head, a little confused, then looked at Xia Ling with a bewildered expression. "Sister Xia Ling... that's it? How come I shattered just from being hit by Honkai Beast?"

"A 90% reduction in defense means you probably wouldn't be as durable as an average person." Xia Ling glanced at the keywords they had chosen. "But don't worry, they'll be out with you soon."

Sure enough, a short while later, Kiana and Bronya appeared together.

"Sister Xia Ling..." Duck Duck's gaze was clearly speechless. "Is this really something we can challenge?"

"Hmm~" Xia Ling's expression was very pleasant. "If we study it carefully, there is still a chance."

"Anyway, it's still a long way from September, you have plenty of time to figure it out."

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Opening of the Abyssal Eye

As Xia Ling had designed the difficulty level of the terms herself, she was naturally aware of the various ways to skip class and play. However, even those methods required Kiana and her teammates to reach a certain level in terms of adaptability, attacking, or defending.

Xia Ling was confident that Duck Duck would find these ways to skip class within a week with her gaming talent, and then, out of curiosity, they would definitely try them all.

In this way, Xia Ling's purpose in conducting special training in these three aspects has been achieved.

However, even if they find the right method, they basically have no chance of clearing level 18 in a short period of time. The reason is simple: no matter which aspect of the Hi-maru they focus on, they are basically only capable of soloing A-rank Valkyrie.

To clear level 18, they would need to be at least at a level close to that of the original work during the Schicksal War.

After arranging for Kiana and the others to undergo special training in the Stigmata Space, Xia Ling's schedule was finally able to relax a bit.

As for why they didn't completely relax, it's because there's one last plot point before the main storyline begins.

That was the first activation experiment of the Abyssal Eye.

In this experiment, in order to cover Ain's retreat, Welt sent her out of the Sea of Quantum and then used the core to construct a maze, trapping Kevin inside. Kevin was temporarily offline in the early part of the story, and when he reappeared, it was a year later in the story of the Duck Duck Herrscher transformation.

With Xia Ling's help this time, and the information Kevin had given her beforehand, although Welt is unlikely to return, at least he shouldn't lose his body like in the original story.

A few days later, Ain's invitation arrived as scheduled.

Considering that it would be inconvenient for Xia Ling to stay at the Abyssal Eye for too long, Xia Ling and Welt discussed for a long time how to ask Theresa for leave. In the end, they asked for a few days off under the pretext of an exchange visit.

With Theresa looking on with a mixture of belief and doubt, Xia Ling finally embarked on her journey to Abyssal City.

As for the dean who hadn't slept well for several days because no one was holding him... let's leave that aside for now.

However, when Xia Ling arrived at her destination...

"Huh? So I don't have to go down?"

When Xia Ling arrived in Abyssal City, the experiment was almost ready to start. However, Xia Ling Ain told Xia Ling that she was not allowed to participate in the silver... oh no, the experiment.

"Well, the main reason I invited you here this time is to prevent any accidents from happening during the experiment," Einstein explained. "As for the experimental process alone... since your way of entering the Sea of Quantum and the Abyssal City are not part of the same system, entering together will not only not be safer, but may even cause mutual interference."

"Then... I can just watch?"

"That's right, we can just observe the experiment together. After all, we've basically figured out how to manipulate the Abyssal Eye. As long as we don't encounter anything strange after entering the Sea of Quantum, this experiment is almost guaranteed to succeed."