Chapter 1134 - 3: Learning

Hua Yun’s visit here brought significant gains for Chen Wen.

On one hand, he gained a more comprehensive understanding of the Heat Extreme Challenge, learning a lot of information about it, especially things not documented in association materials.

Honestly speaking, Chen Wen felt quite critical of the person managing the association’s data updates—does this person only take a salary without doing any work?

Why aren’t these materials updated in real-time?

On the other hand, he met the senior Hua Yun mentioned.

This senior is a woman, a Canadian, who completed four challenges, which is quite rare for a female.

The challenges she completed include Forest Extreme Challenge, Heat Extreme Challenge, Desert Extreme Challenge, and Beast Extreme Challenge.

After Chen Wen managed to contact her, with Hua Yun acting as the intermediary to explain his intentions, the senior agreed without hesitation.

In her words, using Chinese to express it, it’s like herding one sheep is herding, herding a flock is also herding, and she’s currently teaching students Arabic, so taking Chen Wen along is no issue.

Subsequently, Chen Wen immersed himself in a sea of knowledge.

The senior arranged to dedicate two hours every Tuesday and Friday evening for video calls to guide Chen Wen’s learning.

And as a favor for Hua Yun, the senior didn’t charge any fees.

This made Chen Wen give Hua Yun a thumbs-up for his network of connections.

After finishing with the senior, Chen Wen thanked her once more, to which she happily hung up the phone.

In her words, teaching Chen Wen, the strongest of the new generation, was quite fulfilling for her.

"Cough, cough, does this senior have a tendency to enjoy teaching others?"

After hanging up the phone, Chen Wen couldn’t help but ask.

Hua Yun decisively nodded: "You’re spot on; this senior indeed has this habit, but it’s quite good, isn’t it?"

Chen Wen nodded enthusiastically, praying for more seniors like her!

After discussing this matter, Hua Yun continued: "Besides this, my staff mentioned this morning that, starting the day after tomorrow, we can go to the Russian Association to collect this time’s badges. Shall we go together?"

"Absolutely."

Chen Wen replied: "I don’t have any other plans for this period, just contact me when it’s time, and we’ll go together."

After chatting for a while longer, Hua Yun took his leave; today he had his final parasite check-up, and if everything went well, he could be discharged.

...

After Hua Yun left, Chen Wen carefully reviewed the materials on the Heat Extreme Challenge.

He refined his plans again.

Admittedly, the Heat Extreme Challenge was a bit troubling, at least due to the presence of armed forces, which caught him off guard.

Moreover, after pondering for a bit, Chen Wen felt that the Heat Extreme Challenge didn’t have any suitable animals to bring along.

Last time, during the Desert Extreme Challenge, the animals he brought back didn’t prove very helpful this time.

The only ones that might help are Screaming Kite and the stray dog Dahuang.

But the environment there is pure desert, not suitable for Dahuang and Screaming Kite, as they are more accustomed to operating in a desert-like terrain.

So after considering, Chen Wen decided not to bring the animals along this time.

As for the camels, they had become accustomed to a leisurely life, and their performance in the wilderness wasn’t as good as finding and taming other camels at the location.

After pondering over it a while, Chen Wen began looking through entries.

He searched through heat-resistant, drought-tolerant, and sun-proof entries, ultimately determining fifteen entries.

For this challenge, Chen Wen planned to bring fifteen initial entries.

Apart from concerns over the dangers of the Heat Extreme Challenge, Chen Wen was somewhat worried about the matter Hua Yun mentioned.

...

The day to collect the badges soon arrived.

After receiving a call from Hua Yun, Chen Wen joined Hua Yun and the other team members to head to the Russian Survival Association headquarters.

Being independent from the Adventurer Association, the Russian Survival Association’s scale left Chen Wen in awe when they arrived.

"This area is almost the size of some schools!"

Chen Wen couldn’t help but say.

Hua Yun nodded aside, although knowing about the place’s conditions, she was seeing it in person for the first time: "I’ve heard the Russian Survival Association has the largest area among all associations, and now it seems it’s true!"

While they conversed, some staff members passed by them.

Initially, these staff members didn’t recognize them, but when a bespectacled young man happened by Chen Wen, he realized who Chen Wen was: "Mr. Chen Wen?"

Chen Wen was startled, looking at the youth: "Do you recognize me?"

This was how he spoke.

The youth politely smiled: "In fact, anyone who follows the Eight Extremes Challenge shouldn’t be unfamiliar with you."

Saying this, the youth also looked towards Hua Yun: "This must be Ms. Hua Yun, hello, pleased to meet you here."

"Hello."

Hua Yun politely nodded, not saying much.

The youth didn’t overthink it; his attention was mainly on Chen Wen.

After chatting briefly with Chen Wen, the youth introduced himself: "I suppose you’re here for the Forest Extreme Challenge badge collection. I am Valery’s assistant, in charge of this matter, and since it’s not yet working hours, I’d like to show you around our association. It’s a bit of my hospitality."

This was reasonable, so Chen Wen and Hua Yun exchanged a glance and agreed.

Then the youth began showing them around the association.

The Russian Survival Association indeed occupied a large area, with complete buildings and facilities.

The youth took them to a building with its door wide open, inside was a large activity room about the size of three basketball courts, with many fitness equipment around.

Chen Wen glanced inside, noticing only three or four people exercising.

The youth said: "This is the fitness area, usually open to the public, but it’s morning now, so the turnout isn’t large."

Chen Wen nodded.

It seemed this place was built to ensure the association’s internal personnel’s training, but to cover daily maintenance costs, it was open to the public.

Walking around the fitness area, Chen Wen noticed a wall with something akin to a leaderboard on one side at the entrance.

Hua Yun was reading the text on it.

Chen Wen approached and asked: "What’s this?"

The youth heard this question and, with a cheerful smile, replied: "Honor board, accurately speaking, it’s just a fitness honor board recording the record holders of various projects, both from within the association and external visitors. As long as they complete the challenge in the presence of staff, they can get on the leaderboard, and at the end of every year, some fitness-related rewards are issued based on the rankings."

Chen Wen seemed to understand.

He glanced at the leaderboard and found many projects listed.

With the youth’s explanation, Chen Wen knew these projects included some like boxing battles, yoga non-battles, and various weight-lifting and squat records, among others.

Looking further on the leaderboard, Chen Wen noted the same name appeared in first place on many records.

This made Chen Wen quite surprised: "These names—uh, I’m not too familiar with Russian text—do they all represent one person?"

Upon hearing, the youth displayed a ’I knew you’d ask’ expression.

He proudly introduced: "Certainly, that’s our president, Valery’s name!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Wen immediately showed respect.