Fate Trading System – Chapter 104

Plan A

Rise in Another World 16

Reunion

Entry into the Sky-reaching Tower has requirements. Each of the four major academies is limited to twenty students, plus the accompanying teachers, totaling twenty-eight people.

Because the number of people allowed to enter the Sky-reaching Tower is limited and it’s extremely dangerous, only the best are chosen to go first.

The Sky-reaching Tower used to be a desirable place; initially, everyone wanted to enter, and the Sky-reaching Tower welcomed all comers without discrimination.

However, of the first thousand people who went in, only a few dozen came out.

This terrifying mortality rate chilled people to the bone, and ordinary folks no longer dared to try their luck casually.

Among these few dozen people, only four made it to the fourth level of the Sky-reaching Tower before returning with severe injuries.

Coincidentally, these four individuals were from different countries. Upon their return, they gained prestigious status and each founded a school. They became the guardians of the Sky-reaching Tower, turning it into an exclusive training ground for their schools. Of course, others could still enter if they had recommendations or sufficient abilities.

Su Xin, being an outstanding student of her year, was naturally allowed to enter the Sky-reaching Tower for training.

The group included Su Xin of the Fire system, Yu Si of the Water system, Mu Yao of the Wood system, and He Lan – the one who caused the rivalry between Shen Linglong and Yu Man. There was also Li Xiuxiu of the Earth system and the young man called Fang Yan who had previously lost to Yu Si in battle. Su Xin didn’t recognize the others.

As students from the four major academies gathered, one of the teachers leading this expedition was Yan Ru, whom Su Xin had known from the beginning, along with a young man called Meng Shaokun.

These two seemed to be a couple. Su Xin had once accidentally overheard them arguing. Yan Ru apparently unleashed a thunderstorm because some female teacher had given Meng Shaokun an embroidered handkerchief with mandarin ducks (symbolizing love and fidelity) on it. Meng Shaokun defended himself, saying he hadn’t had time to refuse before the teacher ran off, and then Yan Ru arrived, catching the scene.

Yan Ru, who usually seemed like a mature and reasonable woman, became childish and irrational over this incident. Subsequently, Meng Shaokun’s method of pacifying her was “pa pa pa” (an onomatopoeia suggesting intimate activities). Su Xin had left as soon as she sensed what was about to happen, reflecting at the time that they seemed quite experienced.

Su Xin wasn’t interested in the others and only talked to the members of the “Mudslide Squad”.

“Mudslide Squad” was a name Su Xin had come up with and used herself; others didn’t know about it. The members were Su Xin herself, Yu Si, Mu Yao, and Li Xiuxiu.

“Stepping into the transmission formation will send us to different places. If we want to stay together, we can only hold hands.”

Using external aids wouldn’t work, like tying a rope or something – it was useless.

Yu Si and Mu Yao’s expressions stiffened; undoubtedly, they were both unwilling to be touched by others.

If Yu Si were holding Su Xin’s hand, it would be no problem. Although Mu Yao felt that physical contact between men and women should be limited, he also thought it wouldn’t be an issue.

But Li Xiuxiu… Yu Si had acknowledged Li Xiuxiu as her companion, but still didn’t like touching her. Li Xiuxiu knew this, and every time she got close to Yu Si, the surrounding temperature would noticeably drop. No one knew why, but because of this, Li Xiuxiu liked to stand next to Yu Si on hot summer days.

“I’ll hold Xiuxiu and Sisi’s hands. Mu Yao, can you hold Sisi’s hand?” Su Xin asked, negotiating.

Hesitation appeared on both Yu Si and Mu Yao’s faces, but then they nodded in agreement.

“Remember, you’ll be transported to an unknown place. If you encounter danger, crush the jade talisman in your hand to call for help. The training period is one month. I hope each of you can come out alive,” Yan Ru said.

She explained that they could actually go in with the students. Initially, the trial was designed for everyone to stay together without separating.

However, the school later realized this wasn’t conducive to developing students’ ability to fight independently and might even hinder their performance. So it evolved into the current format: enter alone, form teams freely, and call for help when in danger.

The four of them, holding hands, entered and were transported into the Sky-reaching Tower.

Upon entering, they were met with bone-chilling cold.

The Sky-reaching Tower was a mysterious existence. Like all secret realms, it contained various environments, treasures, and dangers. However, its climate was fixed. The first level of the Sky-reaching Tower was eternally shrouded in clingy, damp mist and permeated by a frigid atmosphere – extremely harsh conditions.

Before coming to the Sky-reaching Tower, Su Xin and the others had received tips from their teachers and brought plenty of thick, warm clothing.

As Su Xin entered, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow. Beside her, Mu Yao’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Li Xiuxiu, with her thick layer of fat, seemed unaffected. Yu Si maintained a consistently calm demeanor; Su Xin thought Yu Si’s body temperature might actually be lower than their surroundings.

They stood on a bridge over a lake. The thin mist obscured their vision, everything feeling ice-cold.

Su Xin thought this place would be perfect for filming “A Chinese Ghost Story” (a classic Chinese fantasy film), ideal for a ghost to emerge from the mist.

“Let’s go.”

The process of exploration could be described as a monotonous series of dangers, and the cold in this place was heart-wrenching.

Fortunately, they had warm clothes, so it wasn’t unbearable.

However, the current situation was quite bad, or rather, extremely unfavorable.

Su Xin and her companions encountered a group of fierce mythical beasts. While they were intently focused on fighting their enemies, they were suddenly caught by plants that had rapidly grown behind them.

Mu Yao, being of the Wood system, sensed it first. Before he could warn his companions, they were already hoisted up. He barely managed to dodge.

“I finally understand the advantage of being like this,” Li Xiuxiu said, sitting awkwardly on the ground. The plant hadn’t been able to lift her up.

It had started to lift her, then drooped down. The persistent plant tried to hoist her again, resulting in Li Xiuxiu being dropped.

Su Xin and Yu Si remained silent, the situation becoming awkward.

The plants’ tendrils extended wildly, twisting frantically. As Mu Yao and Li Xiuxiu attacked them, Su Xin and Yu Si were flung away.

Su Xin landed gracefully, finding herself in a predicament where she had to fight both the plants and the mythical beasts.

To make matters worse, the number of mythical beast was increasing.

“There must be something valuable here,” Su Xin said, wiping away blood dripping from the corner of her eye. There had to be an important treasure these creatures were protecting, which explained why the flora and fauna were attacking the four of them so ferociously.

They hadn’t intentionally intruded, but since they were already in this situation, they were determined to get their hands on whatever it was.

On the seventh floor of the Sky-reaching Tower, spring was in full bloom.

Spring – the season when animals mate had arrived once again.

Nan Cheng sensed Su Xin’s arrival but found herself entangled, unable to break free.

In the territory of the Nine Lives Cats, cats could be seen rolling around together. Nan Cheng, still in human form, wore a gloomy expression.

A young man with a flushed face stood before her, timidly attempting to embrace her, but Nan Cheng brushed him away.

Nan Cheng disliked this situation. Outside the window, the coquettish mewing came mostly from tomcats, irritating her greatly.

Her body’s instincts urged her to transform into her original form to engage in certain primal activities, but her rational mind despised these urges, feeling waves of nausea.

“Your Majesty, we’ve prepared this especially for you,” said an elder. He looked very old, his face etched with the marks of time.

The elder, who had long passed the age of reproduction, was unaffected by spring’s influence. He was patiently trying to persuade their willful monarch.

The young man was like a prime gift, appearing so delicate that he seemed he might drip if bitten. His looks were exquisite, with a strange, alluring quality.

The seductiveness of cats was no less than that of snakes or foxes.

Nan Cheng tugged at the corner of her mouth, thinking it wasn’t clear who would be on top in this situation.

She didn’t want him. Right now, she only wanted to escape everything before her and go to the first floor to find the person she had been thinking about for a long time.

Li Xiuxiu panted heavily, barely managing to maintain a protective barrier. Yu Si’s expression remained unchanged, but her chanting speed increased. Water gathered in the air, forming the shape of a dragon that swept across the mythical beasts.

Su Xin licked her lips, feeling thirsty. She took a sip of water and lowered her head, clenching her fists.

The Sky-reaching Tower truly lived up to its reputation. Her and Mu Yao’s magical abilities were nearly depleted. However, Mu Yao is still as calm as clouds and breeze, though he was frantically absorbing wood elements to sustain himself.

A large number of mythical beasts had fallen, with blood flowing like a river, causing unease in those who witnessed it.

More mythical beasts persisted in their relentless attacks, all to protect whatever was behind them.

“What on earth is it that makes them fight so desperately?” Li Xiuxiu’s face had lost all color, and the defensive barrier she maintained was about to collapse.

Su Xin stood up, drawing her sword.

Mu Yao’s expression flickered slightly, recalling a competition in the Duanmu family twenty years ago.

“Furan, what are you going to do?”

Su Xin made a gesture for silence, her fingers stained with blood, looking quite intimidating.

Su Xin wielded her sword, her black hair flowing, as she faced the attacking mythical beasts without dodging or evading.

Her movements were too fast to see clearly. The onlookers only witnessed the previously roaring mythical beasts collapse with a thunderous sound. Li Xiuxiu’s jaw dropped in amazement.

Yu Si and Mu Yao continued their assault while Li Xiuxiu maintained the protective barrier, seemingly catching a glimpse of hope.

They had been considering whether to crush the jade talisman to summon their teachers for rescue. However, only Li Xiuxiu harbored this thought; realizing the other three had no such intention, she abandoned the idea.

Su Xin’s hair was stained with blood as she nimbly weaved between the mythical beasts, leaving trails of wounds in her wake.

“It’s so impressive to watch,” Li Xiuxiu muttered to herself. Although it might seem off-topic at this moment, she couldn’t help but admire how cool it looked.

Su Xin emerged from the blood and corpses, carrying a protective force for her companions.

“Furan, watch out!” Li Xiuxiu shouted. Simultaneously, Yu Si and Mu Yao’s attacks converged on a single point.

It was a beast’s claw, aiming for Su Xin’s heart from behind. Focused on the other mythical beasts, she hadn’t noticed it at all.

Even mythical beasts, it seemed, could resort to sneak attacks.

Before Su Xin’s mind could process the situation, her body reacted instinctively, barely avoiding a fatal blow. However, this disrupted her rhythm, and attacks converged on her from all directions.

It seemed over.

Even Yu Si’s expression showed panic, and Mu Yao could no longer maintain his composure.

“No!”

Su Xin gritted her teeth and raised her sword, but no matter how formidable one person is, they don’t have three heads and six arms (an idiom describing superhuman abilities).

Was this really the end?

Suddenly, Su Xin felt her body lighten. In the blink of an eye, she found herself back beside Yu Si and the others.

“Little One!” Su Xin exclaimed with a broad smile, excitedly hugging the young woman who had finally arrived.

Nan Cheng was still shaken. Having just escaped from the elders, she had hurriedly made her way to the first floor, only to witness such a terrifying scene.

The young woman amidst the mythical beasts had looked so fragile, as if she might be torn apart by the beasts at any moment.

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