"I only have one life!" Mo Fan muttered to himself, still processing what had just happened.
He stood frozen as Ye Chenfeng casually threw the Shadow Beast into the cage and snapped a quick photo as proof.
"Okay, I'm going home to sleep," Ye Chenfeng said, turning to leave without so much as a glance at the others.
The three who remained—Mo Fan, Mu Nujiao, and Ai Tutu—exchanged looks of disbelief.
Mo Fan broke the silence. "I thought there'd be a massive battle!"
Mu Nujiao frowned. "I was expecting traps everywhere."
Ai Tutu sighed, exasperated. "That's because neither of you understands just how terrifying he is."
Meanwhile, news of the Shadow Beast's capture spread. Shen Mingxiao was furious.
"What? The Shadow Beast was taken?" he roared, glaring at his teammates. "How could you let it happen without even putting up a fight? Useless!"
Luo Song, his burly teammate, looked equally outraged. "Who did it? Tell me where he is—we'll get it back!"
But when the name Ye Chenfeng came up, Shen Mingxiao fell silent, his rage cooling instantly.
"Ye Chenfeng?" His voice faltered. "Oh… well, that's… not so simple. He's high-level. We'll need the family's help to pressure him, but even then..."
He trailed off, realizing there wasn't enough time to intervene.
Luo Song's confusion turned into indignation. "What are you talking about? We have to fight for this! It's our ticket to the Three-Step Pagoda and the main campus!"
Shen Mingxiao shifted awkwardly. "Let's… think this through. The family can handle it later."
Luo Song clenched his fists but said nothing more. Finally, he sighed, conceding. "Fine. But you're lucky Ye Chenfeng's name scares me as much as it does you."
The next morning, Zhao Manyan woke up groggy but excited. After a quick breakfast, he grabbed his phone to call Ye Chenfeng.
"Old Ye, I'm ready!" Zhao Manyan said cheerfully. "Let's go catch the Shadow Beast!"
On the other end of the line, Ye Chenfeng's calm voice cut through. "Oh, that? We already caught it yesterday."
Zhao Manyan froze. "What? Already?"
"Yeah. It's in the cage now. All we have to do is wait for confirmation. Then we'll head to the Three-Step Pagoda together," Ye Chenfeng explained.
Zhao Manyan sat in stunned silence. I didn't even do anything, and I still get this opportunity? Am I… freeloading?
By the time they gathered to receive their reward from Dean Xiao, Zhao Manyan could barely hide his embarrassment. "Haha, I feel bad. I didn't lift a finger, and now I'm getting this chance," he said sheepishly.
Mo Fan waved it off. "Don't overthink it. Just remember to return the favor to Ye Chenfeng someday."
"Of course!" Zhao Manyan agreed quickly.
At the entrance to the Three-Step Pagoda, Dean Xiao began his introduction. "This tower is a masterpiece of ancient magic. It gathers elemental energies scattered throughout the world. You are very fortunate, as opportunities like this are rare. Make the most of it."
Ye Chenfeng interrupted, his tone matter-of-fact. "Dean, I still have one more entry pass. Let's just combine both into a single session—fourteen days."
Dean Xiao raised an eyebrow but relented. "Very well."
As they followed the tower's keeper inside, a metallic glow illuminated the long passageway. The seemingly endless corridor sparked awe in everyone, including Ye Chenfeng, who muttered, "This feels like something out of a cultivation legend."
The tower keeper smiled. "Impressive, isn't it? Do you know why it's called the Three-Step Pagoda?"
Ye Chenfeng narrowed his eyes. "Space magic, I assume?"
"Exactly. The pagoda was built by a great sage who specialized in earth and space magic. Each level contains a unique spatial configuration, and its mysteries remain largely undeciphered. For mid-level mages like you, the first and second floors are safe. The third floor, however, could overwhelm you with energy—and potentially kill you."
Mu Nujiao asked, "How do we determine which floor is suitable for us?"
Ye Chenfeng smirked. "Ai Tutu should stick to the first floor. The rest of us can try the second."
"And you?" Mu Nujiao pressed.
Ye Chenfeng's smirk widened. "I'm going straight to the third floor."
Ai Tutu pouted but kept quiet, and the senior overseeing them chuckled. "Confidence is good. Just don't push yourself too far."
With that, the group prepared to ascend, each eager to unlock the tower's secrets in their own way.