Name: Damaged Space Stone
Category: Soul Energy Items
Value: Common
Effect:
1. Contains 1 cubic meter of storage space.
2. This item is highly unstable, with an uncertain usage duration.
[Consume 100 Soul Energy to upgrade this item?]
This was the item Li Heng had traded for a ten-year-old Wolf Blood Grass at the Soul Energy Store. Although the Space Stone’s properties were poor—it even felt like it could stop working at any moment—Li Heng had still come out ahead.
Space Stones were expensive, and spatial equipment was even more so.
A single ten-year-old Wolf Blood Grass was nowhere near enough. It took three of them to barely trade for the lowest-grade, smallest Space Stone.
But Li Heng had his Golden Finger and wouldn’t make such an unprofitable trade. In the end, thanks to a kind tip from Master Han, he exchanged it for a Space Stone that was on the verge of becoming scrap, along with a regular Longsword.
So, after leaving the Soul Energy Store, Li Heng went straight home. Once in his room, he began using his Soul Energy to upgrade the damaged Space Stone and the Longsword.
Name: Space Stone
Category: Soul Energy Items
Value: Rare
Effect: Contains 1 cubic meter of storage space.
[Consume 1000 Soul Energy to upgrade this item?]
Name: Fine Longsword
Category: Soul Energy Items
Value: Common
Effect:
1. Wearer gains +1 Strength, +1 Agility.
2. Swordsmanship Aptitude +3.
[Consume 100 Soul Energy to upgrade this item?]
Li Heng spent 100 Soul Energy to upgrade the originally damaged Space Stone. The stone itself didn’t change much on the surface, but it had become stable.
A stable Space Stone was a great fortune for a student. Li Heng understood its importance and the need for secrecy.
He hadn’t considered using it to make a quick windfall at this stage; he didn’t want to risk exposing himself in any way.
However, once he had more Soul Energy, he might consider "treasure hunting" for some good deals.
He also spent another 10 Soul Energy to upgrade the regular Longsword he’d bought from the Soul Energy Store. This was now, in a true sense, his first personal weapon that he could rely on for a long time.
After coming out of the Wild Wolf Valley dungeon, Li Heng had 240 Soul Energy. After today’s upgrades, he only had 130 left.
And for this remaining 130 Soul Energy, Li Heng turned his attention to the Wolf King Mountain Dungeon.
[Consume 100 Soul Energy to enter the Wolf King Mountain Dungeon?]
The meaning of the message was straightforward, but Li Heng didn’t rush to spend the Soul Energy and enter.
There was still too much information he didn’t understand, too many doubts. Rushing into the Dungeon would be extremely risky—a death wish, even.
Li Heng remembered that the Wolf King Mountain Dungeon option had only appeared after he had passed through the forest and entered the valley.
’Doesn’t that mean there are still too many unknowns?’
1. After entering the Dungeon, will it only be Wolf King Mountain, without the forest and the outer areas?
2. How do I get out of the Dungeon once I’m inside?
3. Is this Dungeon connected to the real Wild Wolf Valley dungeon?
These three were the priority questions Li Heng considered, and they were the most critical. Other issues would be easier to solve.
Li Heng mulled over these three questions for a long time. Ultimately, he concluded that his hesitation boiled down to two reasons:
1. He was weak and not yet strong enough.
2. He didn’t have a safety net, like a Teleportation Talisman.
’Should I... go ask my homeroom teacher for a Teleportation Talisman?’
After thinking it over and over, Li Heng couldn’t find a solution. He finally set his sights on the Teleportation Talismans for Wild Wolf Valley.
If he could get another Teleportation Talisman, most of his worries would vanish. Many of his problems would no longer be problems.
As for where to get one, Li Heng targeted his homeroom teacher, Huang Lingjing. He took out his phone and dialed his teacher’s number.
"Hello? Teacher Huang? Hi, it’s your student, Li Heng from Class 5, Third Year!"
"Oh! Li Heng? What’s up?"
"Well, I was hoping to get a Teleportation Talisman for the Wild Wolf Valley dungeon... is that possible?" Li Heng decided to be direct.
"Hmm? Haven’t you already finished your exam in the Wild Wolf Valley dungeon? Why do you suddenly need a Teleportation Talisman?"
"Teacher Huang, it’s like this... uh... since it was my first time entering a dungeon, I wanted to keep one as a souvenir. I was wondering if my request could be...?"
"Oh! That’s all? Not a problem! The school gave each class 60 Teleportation Talismans just in case anyone lost or damaged theirs. I still have 30 left! You want one as a souvenir, right? I can—"
"Wait! Teacher Huang, actually, my parents... and my cousins, they all want one as a souvenir too..."
Huang Lingjing: "..."
Li Heng sensed the sudden silence on the other end of the line and quickly spoke to lighten the mood. "Teacher Huang, I was just kidding. A few extra would be great."
"Alright! If you need them right away, you can come to my house tomorrow to get them. If not, I can give them to you at school when your break is over."
Huang Lingjing had been worried when his student called during the break, thinking he might have run into some trouble. He didn’t expect it to be such a minor thing. Besides, the Wild Wolf Valley dungeon was over, and the Teleportation Talismans would just go to waste if he kept them. If a student wanted some, why not just give them away?
After hanging up with Teacher Huang, Li Heng felt much more at ease. He decided he would go get the Teleportation Talismans from him tomorrow.
With the talismans, he wouldn’t have to worry about how to exit the system’s Dungeon. He should, at least, be able to make a safe retreat.
After all, he’d been fine tearing up a Teleportation Talisman right at the valley entrance in front of so many wolves, so it would surely be fine this time too.
So, on the second day of his break, Li Heng knocked on his homeroom teacher’s door.
"Teacher Huang, I... I’m here for the Teleportation Talismans. Sorry to trouble you!"
"In such a hurry?! I didn’t realize you were such an eager collector, you punk. Come on in and have a seat!" Huang Lingjing hadn’t expected Li Heng to show up the very next morning.
"Teacher Huang, it’s really too much trouble! I won’t come in. You’d have to mop the floor after me. I can just wait at the door!" Li Heng said, a bit embarrassed.
Huang Lingjing ignored him, waving him in with a grand gesture. "It’s not often a student comes to visit. You make it sound like I can’t even afford to treat you to a meal. We’ll talk about the talismans after lunch!"
Huang Lingjing was indeed a kind and enthusiastic person. Li Heng couldn’t refuse his teacher’s invitation. After a brief hesitation, he shook the dirt and dust from the bottom of his shoes before stepping into his teacher’s home.
"Look how anxious you are! What do I always teach in class? You have to stay calm when things happen! Fine, I’m afraid you’ll have a hard time waiting, so I’ll give you the talismans first. But you absolutely have to stay for lunch!"
Li Heng was extremely embarrassed. He had planned to just take the Teleportation Talismans and leave, but he ended up getting a free meal from his teacher.
In truth, Li Heng felt he was lucky. To have met a homeroom teacher who was both a mentor and a friend—that was someone truly worthy of his respect.