Chapter 323: Chapter 293: A Watched Flower Never Blooms, an Untended Willow Grows

After listening to Senior Brother Du’s explanation, Li Qian finally had a better understanding of the Unstable Rifts within the Dimension Plane. He also understood why the Peacock Monarch had been in such a hurry to get there.

The two chatted for a while longer. Around noon, Instructor Zhou gathered their group of twenty-five new students once again.

He announced, "This morning’s events were unexpected, but this is the norm in the Dimension Plane. You’re constantly surrounded by danger. You never know when you might die in a foreign land, leaving not even a trace behind."

"I can tell you with certainty that today was extremely dangerous. If we had been even a moment later, we might have all perished."

Perhaps feeling he had instilled a sufficient sense of crisis, Instructor Zhou’s tone suddenly shifted from a warning to encouragement. "But you don’t need to be discouraged or overly worried. As long as you increase your strength, self-preservation will be the least of your concerns. It’s not impossible to even dominate an entire Dimension Plane, just like the Peacock Monarch."

...

Blah, blah, blah... Instructor Zhou went on and on. Although Li Qian understood all these principles and knew it was just a pep talk, he couldn’t help but be influenced, a flicker of excitement igniting within him.

After the pep talk, Instructor Zhou laid out the new arrangements. Just as Li Qian had expected, the incident had inevitably had a major impact on their training.

All injured first-years were to return to the academy unconditionally, their military training ending early. The uninjured students had their temporarily issued Adventurer’s Badges confiscated.

With their Adventurer’s Badges confiscated, they lost their clearance to leave the city. They could only remain within Yuntian City’s walls. Their options were to return to the Ancestral Star or stay and explore Yuntian City until the scheduled three-day period was over.

Li Qian chose to stay without a second thought. With what had happened, the possibility of earning an Adventurer’s Badge early for good performance was likely off the table.

Under these circumstances, there was no telling when he’d get to visit a Dimension Plane again. Li Qian naturally had to seize this opportunity to explore.

Having made his decision, Li Qian let out a long breath. He stopped dwelling on the training mission and began to wander through Yuntian City at a leisurely pace.

Not only were the culture and architecture in Yuntian City completely different from the Ancestral Star, but the various Pet Beast shops also offered an exceptionally rich variety of goods at prices much cheaper than back home.

Li Qian bought a reserve portion of any useful materials he came across, like Dragon Bone Powder, Wind Chime Fruit, Xunfeng Bamboo, and Void Stone. He figured they would all come in handy sooner or later.

Just as Li Qian stepped out of a shop that sold Pet Beast Cubs, he glanced at the sky, intending to find a hotel. At that moment, his temporary communication watch suddenly rang.

Li Qian stared at the unfamiliar number on the display, puzzled. ’How could a stranger get through on this temporary watch?’

Without overthinking it, he pressed the answer key. The voice that came through the watch took him by surprise.

It was Irina!

About half an hour later, Li Qian arrived at a restaurant named "Western Regions People" and walked inside.

Just as he entered, a graceful figure at a two-person table near the left-hand corridor raised her hand, beckoning him over.

It was Irina.

"Senior Sister Yilina, I didn’t expect to run into you here!" Li Qian said with a smile, walking over without hesitation.

"I already knew you were in Yuntian City," Irina said coolly. "And if there hadn’t been an incident, you’d be camping in the Moon Shadow Forest tonight. Eat up. I ordered for two, so don’t let it go to waste. Food is much more expensive here in Yuntian City than on the Ancestral Star."

Li Qian didn’t stand on ceremony. He picked up his bowl and chopsticks and prepared to serve himself some rice.

Seeing this, a look of astonishment crossed Irina’s face. "No drinks? You’re just going to dive right in?"

Li Qian simply echoed her earlier words. "In a Dimension Plane, food is much more expensive than on the Ancestral Star. Can’t let it go to waste."

"You’re an interesting one, junior brother." Irina chuckled at his response. She said no more, taking a swig of her drink before starting on her own food.

The two ate in comfortable silence, as if they had met up for the sole purpose of having a meal.

Around six-thirty, dinner came to an end. The two left the "Western Regions People" restaurant and began to stroll through Yuntian City together.

"Let’s go." After walking for a while, Irina suddenly said.

"Huh?" A giant, invisible question mark appeared over Li Qian’s head.

"I’m taking you to see Teacher Tie," Irina said. "I was originally going to bring his Pet Beast, the Golden Pearl Bud, to you. But since you’re already here in the Dimension Plane, I might as well take you to see him in person."

"I heard from Elder Tie that he was a Gatekeeper for the Dimensional Rift," Li Qian said. "I kept an eye out when I came through this time, but I didn’t see him near the Dimensional Gate."

Irina explained, "That’s normal. Guarding the Dimensional Gate doesn’t mean you just stand there blankly at the entrance like some security guard."

"There are security robots for that. The Gatekeepers usually don’t even make an appearance. They have their own offices; it’s really not that different from a nine-to-five job."

She continued, "Of course, you definitely won’t find him there now. He’s already requested a transfer from his original post. He’s gone to Feihua City to serve as the Vice Guardian Envoy."

"Vice Guardian Envoy... so he’s not in Yuntian City anymore..." Li Qian grew even more confused. "Why?"

"I don’t know..." Irina shook her head. "Perhaps he wants to use the environment there to temper himself and his Pet Beast, to make another attempt at reaching the Emperor Level."

"Another attempt at reaching the Emperor Level?" Li Qian shook his head, his eyes filled with doubt. "But I’ve already figured out the evolution path for the Golden Pearl Bud into a Tidal Sea Spirit. Since Elder Tie’s Golden Pearl Bud is already at the Dominator Level, it shouldn’t take long for it to reach the Emperor Level after evolving."

"What you did..." Irina gave Li Qian a long, deep look before telling him the truth. "...was an unexpected development..."

"I never heard Elder Tie mention anything about you helping him evolve his Golden Pearl Bud. He probably wasn’t holding out much hope... In the end... well, you know how it is. Sometimes the things you don’t plan for are the ones that succeed spectacularly!"

Li Qian’s lip twitched. ’So Elder Tie really didn’t have much faith in me at all. He must have been pretty surprised when I called him,’ he thought.

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