Chapter 33

After exercising for two hours straight, until the space提示 (note: this word is not properly translated as it seems to be a technical term or name in the original text, so I will leave it as "space") notified him that the time was almost up, Zhao Futu prepared to return to reality.

At this moment, he finally had a new understanding of the phrase "further improve the mastery of any melee skills" in the basic skills. Clearly, this unexplained ability also had the effect of improving skill proficiency. During Zhao Futu's practice of the Silver Cross Sword Technique, the proficiency for the next level of sword technique increased significantly faster!

Unfortunately, his basic skills could not be improved through practice, and only the Silver Cross Sword Technique he learned had a proficiency display.

"Phew! It's about time."

Zhao Futu exchanged a large bottle of nutrient solution and drank it in large gulps. After two hours of intense exercise, he was not exhausted at all; instead, he felt a surge of energy that he wanted to release. However, time was running out, and he had sweated a lot, showing slight signs of dehydration.

The room had a dedicated large bathtub. The decoration was not luxurious, but it was undoubtedly spacious and comfortable. Zhao Futu lay down and sighed in relief, then opened the item exchange page in the Nightmare Space. The items for ability enhancement were all extremely valuable, but ordinary items were relatively cheap, especially daily necessities, which were so inexpensive that they were almost unbelievable!

"Gold!? Hmm, one kilogram of gold for 1000 survival points! That's quite cheap? In reality, it's between 300,000 to 400,000 RMB? So, doesn't that mean I earned over one million RMB from this mission?" Zhao Futu looked around and realized he was wrong.

Because there were even cheaper items!

"RMB exchange?!"

"1 survival point equals 1000 RMB! No exchange limit? Can be brought back to reality? That means the 200 survival points I have left can be directly exchanged for 200,000 RMB?" Zhao Futu couldn't sit still.

Most of the items listed could not be brought back to reality, but it seemed the space didn't want its contractors to continue suffering in reality. It allowed the exchange of survival points for their corresponding currency, with a very humane note:

"The exchange rate will be automatically adjusted based on the inflation in the contractor's country!"

[Below is a red character!]

"Note! All currency exchanged from the space will be in cash. Exchanging large amounts over 100 million may attract unnecessary attention! Contractors are strictly prohibited from revealing the Nightmare Space to others, or they will be eliminated!"

...

"One hundred million! One stack is 10,000, so 100 million is 10,000 stacks, and all in cash. Can one person carry that much?" Zhao Futu smacked his lips and directly exchanged 100,000 RMB. A flash of light appeared, and ten neat stacks of red hundred-yuan notes appeared before him. He put the cash into the storage imprint exclusive to the Nightmare Space contractors and found that the space inside was slightly smaller, with not much room left after putting in the ten stacks.

"Contractor 1013 has 5 merit points and the rank of a private first class. The private storage space can be expanded. Do you want to expand it?"

"Yes!"

Zhao Futu agreed without hesitation. His personal storage space then expanded to about one cubic meter in size.

"It can hold some things!" Zhao Futu examined it and put his few items inside.

According to the Nightmare Space's prompt, the storage space could also be used in reality, but things from reality couldn't be brought in, and only some items from the Nightmare Space could be taken out. Many items, when brought back to reality, would show a sealed mark and couldn't be taken out. Even the contractor's abilities and skills would be sealed in reality, with the exception of real-world abilities and data-based physical attributes.

When contractors returned to reality, they would no longer have fatal weaknesses, and their lives would be influenced by attribute values. Their recovery ability would be somewhat weakened.

In simple terms:

Even if a contractor's head was hit by a peanut in reality, as long as the life value on the attribute page wasn't depleted, they wouldn't die and would recover over time. However, the contractor's abilities in reality wouldn't be enhanced by equipment, and their abilities would be based on their base attributes without equipment. Other abilities, including bloodline abilities, would be sealed by the space!

Just as he was about to get dressed after soaking for a few minutes, the Nightmare Space gave a prompt:

"Contractor 1013, you have stayed in the Nightmare Space for too long. You have 0 hours, 3 minutes, and 59 seconds left before reaching the maximum stay time! Please choose to enter the Nightmare World or return to the real world!"

Time was running out.

Zhao Futu quickly got dressed and prepared to return to the real world.

In the contractor's private space, there was a small door that functioned like an elevator. When the contractor entered it, they would be teleported back to the real world.

As Zhao Futu stepped in, a red light flashed, and soon a space prompt sounded:

"The equipment you obtained in the Nightmare Space has been forcibly removed and stored in your private space. The seal will be lifted when you return to the Nightmare Space!"

"In the real world, whether actively or passively, contractors must not reveal any information about the space to ordinary people."

"The abilities you obtained in the Nightmare Space will be sealed. Please avoid using any abilities that can be used in the real world, as it may cause significant risks!" (Real-world abilities are exempted)

"You can only re-enter the Nightmare Space after seven days."

"When the Nightmare Space gives you a main mission prompt, you must return to the space within 24 hours. To return, focus your attention on the space imprint."

"Time in the Nightmare Space is not synchronized with the real world."

"Your special ability — Inner Dan Technique [True] — can be used in the real world after returning."

...

A ray of light appeared before Zhao Futu's eyes. When his vision fully recovered, he found himself still in the same spot, just a few steps away from his front door. He checked his phone; it was 8:15. He had bought the nutrient solution from Aunt Lan's shop around 8:00, walked for about ten minutes, and the remaining five minutes must have been the time he spent in the Nightmare Space.

"Indeed, the time consumption is not synchronized! Could the Nightmare Space be in another dimension?"

Zhao Futu took a deep breath, feeling the power in his body, then opened the door and muttered to himself, "It really feels like a dream!"