Novice Trial Begins

Survival Calendar Day 4, 11:58.

Disaster: Blood Moon Descends

Weather: Cloudy, Temperature: 26°

The Novice Trial Dungeon wouldn't open for another three hours, so Ji Xinghe opened the Food Pack.

[Food Pack opened: Received a Hotpot Set for one.]

A small hotpot appeared out of thin air on the wooden table in front of her. Beside it lay Spicy Beef, Tripe, Hao'er Fish, prawns, Crab, Meatballs, vegetables, and other little skewers.

What made Ji Xinghe especially happy was that there was even a dish of oil-based dipping sauce filled with Chili Peppers.

The spicy aroma of the hotpot drifted into her nostrils, and saliva kept pooling in her mouth.

She lit the little stove, and ten minutes later, the hotpot broth was bubbling away.

She hurriedly dropped the skewers in to cook.

She only stopped when the little pot was full.

She took a bottle of Iced Cola from the Refrigerator, opened it, and poured herself a full glass.

As she drank, she watched the little hotpot.

Suddenly, a Vine tip and a branch appeared beside the front door.

They leaned against the door from either side, quietly watching Ji Xinghe.

Seeing her two pets leaning against the door with their heads tilted, Ji Xinghe felt a little awkward. It was like being caught eating alone by her friends.

She gave an embarrassed laugh. "Hey~ Xiao Xi, Xiao Sha, want to come in and have some?"

Ever since the Shelter had been upgraded, it had become much more spacious. The front door was wider, and the ceilings were about a meter higher.

Xiao Sha was now just small enough to squeeze inside.

As soon as she finished speaking, both pets walked in together.

The once-empty living room was instantly packed.

Ji Xinghe handed them two skewers of Spicy Beef. "Go ahead."

Xiao Xi took one with a Vine and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Thank you, Master~"

Seeing that, Xiao Sha shivered. As it took a skewer, a young boy's voice rang out. "Thank you, Master."

The two pets took the skewers and swallowed the meat along with the wooden sticks.

Ji Xinghe tapped them. "Here, this is how you eat it. Don't eat the sticks. Just throw them in the Trash Bin."

"Oh~" Both pets nodded, but their eyes stayed fixed on the little hotpot.

They had never tasted anything so rich in flavor. Even after the meat had gone down their throats, its lingering aroma still wafted around them.

Seeing that, Ji Xinghe gave them another handful of cooked meat skewers, this time dipped in the sauce.

The two pets ate with relish, and Ji Xinghe was just as enthusiastic.

By the time they'd finished everything on the wooden table, Ji Xinghe and her two pets were still savoring the meal, reluctant to be done.

Ji Xinghe took out some washed Beast Meat and boiled it for them.

After another half hour of eating, all three of them finally had round, full bellies.

She rubbed her stomach. Not wanting to waste anything, Ji Xinghe put the dipping sauce and hotpot broth into the Storage Box, saving them for when she had a craving next time.

After the meal, she looked at the two pets.

"I'm going to the Dungeon this afternoon. Do you want to come with me?"

The Novice Trial should let her bring her pets, right?

In her previous life, she hadn't had pets during the Novice Trial, but when she'd entered Dungeons later on, she'd been allowed to bring them unless the rules specifically said otherwise.

Ji Xinghe stroked their leaves, wishing she had a Portable Pet Space. Then, taking on Dungeons or exploring islands would be much more convenient.

But a Portable Pet Space was even harder to come by. In her previous life, she'd only heard people talk about one. She hadn't even been worthy of seeing one in person.

A cool sensation brushed her skin. Ji Xinghe looked down and saw a Vine curling around her fingertip.

"Go. Xi wants to fight alongside Master."

The branch above them gently patted her shoulder, too. "Sha does too!"

Ji Xinghe's lips curved into a smile. "All right, then. We'll go together."

She wasn't worried about the island being attacked while she was away.

When someone entered a Dungeon, time in the Survival World came to a relative standstill.

No matter how long she stayed in the Dungeon—an hour, a day, or half a month—when she came out, it would still be the moment she had entered.

Besides, her Shelter had a Protective Shield.

A little over two hours later.

The system's mechanical voice rang in her ears.

[The Novice Trial Dungeon is about to open. The system will now explain the Dungeon rules.]

[Rule 1: This trial uses a stage-clearing format. After clearing each stage, players may choose to return to their island or continue the challenge. (Note: You cannot return to your island while clearing a stage.)]

[Rule 2: After clearing each stage, players will unlock a limited-time reward, including various buffs, weapons, and items... (For use inside the Dungeon only.)]

[Rule 3: This trial has ten stages. The stages grow progressively more difficult. Players who clear them all will receive a special reward courtesy of the system.]

[Rule 4: The trial uses a ranking system. The more stages players clear, the higher their ranking.]

[The top one hundred players in each region will receive generous rewards. The other players will receive consolation prizes, of course. (If multiple players clear the same number of stages, the system will rank them fairly according to how long they took.)]

[Rule 5: Death inside the Dungeon means true death!]

[Players, please prepare yourselves!]

Ji Xinghe checked her backpack one more time. Once she'd made sure she had everything she needed, she took hold of her two pets.

[Novice Trial Dungeon opening countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...]

As the countdown ended, Ji Xinghe suddenly felt dizzy. Once she steadied herself, she and her two pets had arrived in another space.

"Bzzzt... Crackle..."

Her nose twitched. She caught the scent of burning white candles.