Digimon: I really didn't want to be the Digimon Emperor!

The bus bumped along the dirt road in the suburbs for nearly an hour. When the door opened with a "whoosh," Cheng Yuan was the first to jump off, almost dropping his jaw at the sight before him.

A colossal, silver-gray building stands abruptly in the middle of the wasteland, like a sleeping steel behemoth.

The building's surface has no decorative design whatsoever, only cold metal walls and a dense array of surveillance cameras that reflect glaring sunlight.

Surrounded by endless wasteland, dotted with a few stubborn clumps of wild grass, the building seemed out of place.

"The designer who chose this location must be a perfectionist," Cheng Yuan muttered under his breath. "There isn't a single tree for miles around, as if they're afraid people won't know there's a secret hidden here."

In the distance, the sound of synchronized slogans echoed as a squad of fully armed soldiers conducted tactical training. Occasionally, a few modified off-road vehicles roared past, their bodies painted with various Digimon designs.

Cheng Yuan squinted and saw several uniformed tamers entering and exiting through the side door of the building. The Digimon beside them were either majestic or strange, but all exuded a professional aura.

"Hey, look over there!" Zhao Lu suddenly tugged at Cheng Yuan's sleeve.

A five-person team emerged from the building. The leader, a tamer, had a majestic eagle-shaped Digimon perched on his shoulder. When his sharp eyes swept over the student group, several timid girls unconsciously took a half-step back.

In contrast, their large group of over forty students looked more like a sightseeing tour group on a spring outing. Cheng Yuan even saw some students still holding snacks they hadn't finished eating along the way, the wrappers rustling in the wind.

"Shouldn't we come up with a slogan or something? Like 'Study hard and make progress every day' or something?" Cheng Yuan suggested, scratching his head. "That would make us seem more imposing."

"Shut up," Zhao Lu rolled her eyes. "Want to raise another little red flag?"

At this moment, the soldiers guarding the building entrance had already noticed the group of uninvited guests. Their brows furrowed so deeply they could trap flies, and their eyes scanned back and forth between the students' casual clothes and snack bags, finally settling on a few boys who were playing around.

"Which school organized this field trip?" the sergeant whispered to his comrade. "When did Savage Valley turn into a children's amusement park?"

Just as the atmosphere became awkward, the roar of an engine grew louder. A modified black SUV pulled up in front of them with a beautiful drift, the dust kicked up by its tires making several girls cough.

The car door suddenly opened, and four figures stepped out one after another—a muscular, burly man like a moving small mountain; a woman with a high ponytail, looking dashing; a refined young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, out of place in this scene; and finally, the familiar Xu Xin, still looking like he hadn't woken up yet.

"A professional animal trainer!" a passerby exclaimed.

The burly man strode toward the checkpoint and pulled a metallic-looking badge from his breast pocket.

The sergeant major took it and examined it carefully. When he saw the gold-embossed professional badge on the document, he immediately straightened his back and gave a standard military salute.

"Wow," Cheng Yuan whistled, "that's quite the spectacle!"

The sergeant hesitated for a second, his gaze sweeping over the eager students, before finally stepping aside to make way. With a "beep" from the electronic lock, the heavy metal door slowly opened, revealing a brightly lit corridor inside.

As Cheng Yuan passed through the heavy metal door, it felt as if he had entered another world.

Wildman Valley Digital Space has been around for ten years and is a mature digital space. The supporting facilities at its entrance are surprisingly complete.

This steel fortress-like outpost is not only a vital passage for controlling access to the digital space, but also an important supply center for the beast tamers.

The interior space of the building is much more spacious than it appears from the outside. The main hall, with a ceiling height of nearly ten meters, is brightly lit, and a holographic projection on the ceiling continuously displays a topographical map of Savage Valley and precautions.

On the left is a row of areas with different functions: the red cross sign of the medical station is particularly eye-catching, and through the glass window you can see various advanced medical equipment neatly arranged inside; the supermarket shelves are full of specially made Digimon food and energy cubes, and several trainers are selecting supplies; the restaurant is filled with fragrant aromas, and all kinds of Shenzhen specialties are on display.

The most bustling area is the central free trade zone.

Dozens of stalls were arranged in a circle, with vendors calling out their wares in a continuous stream.

"Freshly mined digital ore!"

"Basic Energy Shield, 20% off!"

"Buying rare evolution materials!"

Amidst the shouts of vendors, animal trainers in all sorts of outlandish costumes moved about.

Cheng Yuan saw a middle-aged man wearing an eye patch haggling with a stall owner, and the mechanical Digimon on his shoulder made a "click-clack" sound from time to time.

Not far away, a woman in a cheongsam was examining a crystal that emitted a faint blue light, while a plant-type Digimon at her feet nuzzled affectionately against the hem of her dress.

"Don't just stand there, follow me." The burly man's voice pulled Cheng Yuan back to reality.

This group of students was like lambs that had strayed into a pack of wolves, a stark contrast to the professional animal trainers rushing around them.

The seasoned adventurers were mostly dressed in professional gear, with various Digimon strapped to their waists, and their Digimon exuded powerful auras. They walked briskly, some checking their mission lists, others adjusting their equipment, looking nothing like tourists.

"Don't be surprised," the burly man said, a rare smile appearing on his rugged face as he looked at the group of students who were looking around. "It's even bigger and more lively inside the entrance. You'll know what it means to have your eyes opened when you actually enter Savage Valley."

Cheng Yuan's eyes searched through the crowd and quickly locked onto Xu Xin and his teammates.

The muscular man was checking the equipment in his backpack, his movements as practiced as if he were performing acrobatics; the bespectacled, refined young man was whispering something to the Digimon; and Wang Lin—the only female member of the team—was talking to the staff, her every move exuding competence.

"It really is them... Could it be..." Cheng Yuan muttered to himself. The mysterious Xu Xin team that he had encountered a few nights ago was now openly present here.

Could they be on some secret mission? Cheng Yuan's heart raced.

The interior design is austere and practical, with undecorated silver-gray metal walls, non-slip composite flooring, and ceilings covered with monitoring equipment and emergency lighting, resulting in a minimalist and sophisticated style.

"Is this digital space controlled by the Beast Tamer Guild?" Cheng Yuan muttered to himself.

Is it a paid service?

He crept up to Wang Lin, who was organizing her gear. "Pretty sister," Cheng Yuan whispered, feigning an innocent expression, "it must cost a lot to come in, right?"

Wang Lin looked up and was amused by his expression. "Following us doesn't cost any money," she said casually, zipping up her elegant backpack.

"Why?" Cheng Yuan asked, his eyes wide, just like a curious child.

"Because we are professional animal trainers." Wang Lin put on her goggles, her chin slightly raised as she said this, her voice filled with undeniable confidence.

Cheng Yuan opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment.

He had heard about the privileges of professional animal trainers before, but this was the first time he had witnessed them in person, which both shocked and impressed him.

Sure enough, clinging to powerful figures is the fast track.

Wang Lin seemed to see through his thoughts, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips: "If one day you are truly qualified to become a professional animal trainer, you will find that all of this is well deserved, because compared to these things, you will have paid even more."

Cheng Yuan noticed that as she spoke, her gaze unconsciously swept over a scar on her right hand. The scar was winding and menacing, as if it had been inflicted by the claws of some ferocious beast, stretching from the back of her hand all the way down her arm.

Before he could think it through, Xu Xin's whistle rang out throughout the hall.

"Assemble! Prepare to enter the digital space!" Xu Xin's voice was filled with rare excitement. "Remember, stay close to the group; this is not an amusement park."