Chapter Four: Entering the Anomaly Space—Unfulfilled Progress

"What did you say?" Chen Yifeng gazed at Lin Xiaonuo with incredulity. Just three minutes ago, she had expressed her wish to venture into the anomaly space behind the academy.

"Do you understand what you're saying? Can you even enter the anomaly space at this moment?" Despite being an F-class area, it still requires two demon hunters to handle," he reasoned. "You're just a student, entering would mean certain death, do you comprehend?"

Lin Xiaonuo nodded, acknowledging the danger. "I understand the risks, but I still hope you'll agree, Teacher."

"It's impossible, absolutely out of the question!" Chen Yifeng asserted. "The school informed the Demon Hunter Bureau yesterday, and they will send people to handle it today."

"Xiaonuo, temporary setbacks are insignificant compared to the value of life!" he emphasized. "Don't contemplate suicide just because the contract creature is useless!"

Although Chen Yifeng had given up on Lin Xiaonuo's development, seeing his once favorite student willing to throw her life away was still heartbreaking.

After yesterday's contract ceremony, the academy's leadership had instructed Chen Yifeng to retract all resources allocated to Lin Xiaonuo's development. It was an unavoidable situation, and Chen Yifeng had no other options.

But seeing Lin Xiaonuo's determination to risk her life, he couldn't accept it.

"Stop it, no matter what, I won't agree!" Chen Yifeng asserted firmly.

"Teacher!" Lin Xiaonuo approached Chen Yifeng.

"Teacher, over the years, my mother has been able to overcome illnesses, all thanks to your help," she began. "Now, I have no other options."

"I know the academy has given up on nurturing me, so I may not have the right to make any demands anymore. But I still hope that you can give me a chance to prove myself, to let me enter the anomaly space!"

"But please, for the sake of our teacher-student relationship, allow me to be willful one last time."

"Dear child! What do you know of the anomaly space? Haven't I explained it clearly enough in class?" Chen Yifeng sighed, closing his eyes.

"It's a rift in space-time, inhabited by many beings not belonging to this world!" he explained. "Even a glance could contaminate the mind, driving one insane."

"Why do you want to go to such a place? I don't understand," he continued. "But do you realize how dangerous it is? Even the Demon Hunter Bureau doesn't dare to take it lightly. Do you have any better means of self-protection?"

Lin Xiaonuo remained silent, bowing even deeper.

Chen Yifeng sighed again, realizing that Lin Xiaonuo had truly been affected by the contract.

Venturing into the anomaly space now was nothing but seeking death.

"In the afternoon, the people from the Demon Hunter Bureau will come," Chen Yifeng informed her. "You will follow them inside. But remember, this is the first and last time."

With that, Chen Yifeng left without looking back.

He understood that further persuasion would be futile.

Many prodigies had experienced setbacks due to various reasons, but some persevered while others succumbed.

The path to redemption lay solely in their hands.

Whether Lin Xiaonuo lived or died depended on fate.

With the teacher's response, Lin Xiaonuo returned to her dormitory.

Opening the fissure, she communicated with Zhu Qingyun.

"Elder, we can go in the afternoon," she informed him.

"Alright, understood. Just summon me once you're inside," Zhu Qingyun replied.

In the afternoon, Lin Xiaonuo appeared at the back of the academy, dressed immaculately.

After a few minutes, two figures clad in purple appeared.

"Demon Hunter Bureau, Group 174 and 176."

"Tianji Academy, Lin Xiaonuo."

"Suo has briefed us. Although we're unsure of your purpose, there's one thing you must remember," one of them said solemnly.

"From the moment you enter, you must stay close to us at all times. No one will speak to you during the entire process," they instructed. "Only external beings will attempt to deceive your mind with their voices!"

Lin Xiaonuo nodded cautiously, gripping a long sword in her hand.

"Proceed," she said, and the two demon hunters opened the entrance to the domain, and the three of them jumped into the darkness.

Upon entering the anomaly space, Lin Xiaonuo immediately felt a thick, viscous gas enveloping her.

Wanting to ask questions, she remembered their earlier conversation and restrained her curiosity.

In an F-class anomaly space, the strength of the monsters was also F-class. Even if there were leaders among them, they would only be at E-class.

The abilities of professionals were also graded, ranging from SSS to F-class, with F being the lowest and SSS being the highest.

The two demon hunters were of D-class strength, making them almost invincible in this domain.

The three moved forward, quickly encountering some active zombies.

As soon as the zombies saw living beings, they lunged forward aggressively.

The two demon hunters, one wielding a long staff and the other dual-wielding knives, quickly dispatched the seven or eight F-class zombies.

The one with the staff took out something resembling a wristwatch from his pocket. The display showed:

[Clearanceprogress:17%]

Putting the watch back, they continued forward.

Lin Xiaonuo followed behind, her expression inscrutable.

Since entering the anomaly space, she had been trying to connect with Zhu Qingyun.

But half an hour had passed, and there was no response from Zhu Qingyun.

The clearance progress was about to exceed 50%.

Yet Zhu Qingyun, as her contracted creature, seemed to have vanished without a trace.

No matter how she tried to communicate, there was no response.

Lin Xiaonuo was becoming increasingly anxious.

Did she come to such a dangerous place just to watch the demon hunters kill zombies?

[Clearanceprogress:99%]

The last zombie was right in front of them.

The two demon hunters charged forward, one from the left and the other from the right.

The zombie shattered instantly.

[Clearanceprogress:100%]

The three of them breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the progress reach 100 on the screen, preparing to wait for the disappearance of the anomaly space.

But just then!

The screen flashed, and the numbers on it began to change abruptly.

[Clearanceprogress:1%]