Chapter 55: Mission and Secret Realm

Ben entered the Resource Department with Daniel and Alice.

The interior was spacious, with several counters and holographic displays arranged throughout the main hall. Students were moving between different sections, checking available resources, exchanging materials, and collecting items they had previously purchased.

A large display near the entrance showed the department’s main services.

[Resource Department]

[Resource Exchange]

[Special Reward Redemption]

[Resource Storage]

[Material Evaluation]

Ben glanced at the display before opening his student information device.

"Where should we start?" Daniel asked.

Ben pointed toward the mission board displayed on one side of the hall.

"Let’s check the missions first."

Daniel followed his gaze.

"Sure. We can see if there’s anything worth doing."

The three of them walked toward the mission board.

Unlike the Mission Hall, which handled missions across the entire academy, this board mainly displayed assignments related to resource collection and material procurement.

There were several categories, including resource gathering, creature hunting, material delivery, and secret realm exploration.

Ben began browsing through the available assignments.

Most of the missions were designed for Bronze Realm students. They involved collecting ordinary materials from nearby areas or hunting low-level creatures.

However, there were also assignments intended for Silver Realm students.

He changed the filter.

[Mission Requirements: Silver Realm]

Several new missions appeared.

Some required students to collect rare minerals, while others involved hunting Silver Realm creatures or retrieving specific materials from dangerous regions.

Ben carefully examined the rewards and requirements.

One particular mission caught his attention.

[Mission: Miasma Swamp Exploration]

[Difficulty: High]

[Recommended Cultivation: Silver Realm]

[Objective: Collect 10 Miasma Core Fragments]

[Additional Objective: Obtain a complete Miasma Core]

[Reward: 1,500 Academy Credits]

[Additional Reward: Based on the quality and quantity of collected materials]

Ben read the description.

The Miasma Swamp was a secret realm controlled by the academy. It contained large areas covered in poisonous swamps, toxic vegetation, and creatures that had adapted to the dangerous environment.

The miasma inside the realm was extremely concentrated.

Ordinary cultivators couldn’t survive there for long without proper protection.

Even Silver Realm cultivators could die if they entered without sufficient preparation.

Daniel leaned closer to the display.

"The Miasma Swamp? I’ve heard about that place."

Alice nodded.

"It’s a dangerous secret realm. The miasma can affect the body, energy channels, and even the soul. Some of the creatures living there also possess poisonous abilities."

Daniel frowned.

"Then why would the academy allow Silver Realm students to enter?"

"Because the realm contains valuable resources. The academy has already explored several regions and established relatively safe routes, but the deeper areas are still dangerous."

Ben continued reading the information.

The mission was optional, and students were not required to complete every objective. However, the rewards were considerably higher than those offered by ordinary resource-gathering assignments.

He checked the secret realm information attached to the mission.

[Secret Realm: Miasma Swamp]

[Danger Classification: High]

[Recommended Cultivation: Silver Realm]

[Primary Hazards:]

[1. Highly Concentrated Miasma]

[2. Toxic Plants and Spores]

[3. Poisonous Creatures]

[4. Corrosive Swamp Water]

[5. Unknown Contaminants]

[Exploration Duration: Maximum 7 Days]

[Entry Requirement: Valid Exploration Token]

Ben’s eyes moved across the list.

’This place is quite dangerous.’

The miasma wasn’t limited to ordinary poison. According to the description, prolonged exposure could damage a cultivator’s body and energy channels. Certain types could even interfere with spiritual energy and attack the soul.

Without suitable resistance, entering such an environment would be extremely risky.

However, Ben wasn’t particularly worried.

He had something that could help him deal with most of these dangers.

His gaze shifted toward his inventory.

Among the many rewards he had accumulated through his previous sign-ins was an Epic-grade accessory called the **Leonardo Lament Ring**.

It was an unusual defensive artifact designed to protect its wearer against various harmful effects.

The ring provided strong resistance against toxins, poisons, corrosive substances, and other harmful environmental influences.

It wasn’t an absolute defense, especially against effects far beyond its rank, but its protection was considerably better than that of ordinary defensive accessories.

Ben remembered the information attached to the item when he had first received it.

The ring had been created by a renowned artifact maker named Leonardo Lament.

According to its description, Leonardo had originally been an ordinary artifact craftsman who specialized in defensive accessories.

His daughter had died after being exposed to a powerful poison that even experienced healers couldn’t remove.

Despite his knowledge and skills, Leonardo had been unable to save her.

After that incident, he devoted his life to creating an accessory capable of protecting people from different forms of harmful substances.

He spent years studying poisons, toxins, corrosive materials, and other dangerous effects. Eventually, he succeeded in creating the Leonardo Lament Ring.

Although he couldn’t bring his daughter back, he hoped that his creation would prevent other families from suffering the same loss.

The ring had since become a valuable Epic-grade accessory.

Ben had kept it in his inventory without finding a suitable opportunity to use it.

’This might be a good chance.’

The Miasma Swamp contained exactly the kind of environmental hazards the ring was designed to resist.

With its protection, he could explore the realm more safely than most Silver Realm cultivators.

He didn’t expect the ring to make him completely immune to every danger, but it should significantly reduce the risks.

More importantly, the Miasma Swamp might contain resources suitable for his next major breakthrough.

His White Ruination had already developed several powerful sub-abilities through the resources he had absorbed. Finding another unusual material could produce an equally valuable result.

Ben continued examining the mission details.

There were several other Silver Realm assignments, but none caught his attention as much as this one.

He opened the exploration information.

[Miasma Swamp Exploration]

[Entry Token: 600 Academy Credits]

[Maximum Exploration Period: 7 Days]

[Available Entry Sessions: Limited]

[Recommended Equipment: Poison Resistance, Corrosion Resistance, and Defensive Artifacts]

The token cost was higher than some of the other secret realms, but Ben had enough credits.

He currently possessed 3,000 Academy Credits.

Spending 600 wouldn’t be a problem.

Daniel noticed that Ben had been examining the same mission for a while.

"Are you thinking of entering the Miasma Swamp?"

Ben nodded.

"Yeah. I’m considering it."

Alice looked at the information.

"Are you sure? It’s not an easy place to explore. Even Silver Realm students can encounter life-threatening situations there."

"I know. I’ve already checked the requirements."

Daniel scratched his cheek.

"I was thinking about entering a secret realm too, but I haven’t decided which one yet. The Miasma Swamp sounds a little too dangerous for my first expedition."

Ben smiled.

"You don’t have to enter the same realm as me."

"True. I’ll look around a little more."

Alice also began examining the other available missions.

Meanwhile, Ben opened the exploration token purchase page.

[Secret Realm: Miasma Swamp]

[Entry Token: 600 Academy Credits]

[Confirm Purchase?]

He selected confirm.

[Purchase Successful]

[600 Academy Credits Deducted]

[Remaining Academy Credits: 2,400]

[An Exploration Token Has Been Added To Your Student Account.]

Ben checked the token information.

It contained the entry authorization and his designated exploration period. The academy would notify him of the available entry sessions and allow him to select a suitable time.

He didn’t need to enter immediately.

First, he wanted to prepare his equipment and make sure he had everything necessary.

’With the Leonardo Lament Ring, I should be able to handle most of the environmental hazards. I’ll still need to be careful around the creatures and anything that can bypass ordinary poison resistance.’

He closed the token information.

Daniel looked at him.

"So, you’ve decided?"

"Yes. I’ll enter the Miasma Swamp."

"Good luck, then. Just don’t forget to bring back something valuable."

Ben chuckled.

"I’ll try."

Alice glanced at the mission board again.

"Make sure you study the available information before entering. The academy’s records might not cover every danger inside."

Ben nodded.

"I’ll keep that in mind."

He had already learned that the academy’s secret realms were not completely safe, even when they had established exploration routes.

However, that was also what made them valuable.

The deeper regions often contained rare materials that couldn’t be obtained through ordinary means.

And if he found something compatible with White Ruination, his next breakthrough might become considerably more interesting.

Ben glanced at the exploration token displayed on his device.

His next destination was decided.

The Miasma Swamp.