The Hunt Begins! (Seeking reads, seeking collections)

Just like that, after spending a full month inside the Mandarin Duck Pot, Lan Yu was finally forcibly teleported back to the magic world by his Summoning element.

He glanced at the calendar and discovered that only three days had passed.

He had originally planned to hunt some wild game in the Sunset Forest to satisfy Momo.

As it turned out, Dugu Bo had stubbornly stood guard outside the Mandarin Duck Pot, leaving him too afraid to step out.

Fortunately, he had prepared enough rations and water for a month, otherwise, he would have truly been forced to return to the magic world early.

Not long after, the new semester began.

However, as soon as the term started, a piece of news immediately spread throughout the entire academy.

That is, the big devil Mo Fan had nearly killed a senior from the Wind element the day before school started!

This incident spread like wildfire, causing Mo Fan's notorious reputation to double overnight.

"It cracks me up; those three people were originally planning to ambush you, but they ended up running into the big devil instead." In the lobby on the first floor of the apartment, Ai Tutu laughed until she was doubled over.

"I can only say he has very good luck," Lan Yu said.

Speaking of which, how much was the bounty for a Blue Deacon again?

If he remembered correctly, it should be 120 million, right?

When the time comes, he would have Momo secretly track that Grey One and then obtain the name of the Blue Deacon from Yu Ang's hands.

120 million—sweet, sweet profit.

After giving Ai Tutu a word of caution, Lan Yu went to the balcony to cultivate.

Ai Tutu understood and took the initiative to head upstairs to her room.

Lan Yu had only been immersed in his cultivation for a short while when Mu Nujiao walked down from upstairs.

Looking through the glass at Lan Yu on the balcony bench outside, Mu Nujiao sighed softly: How does this guy's cultivation level improve so quickly?

She was actually a bit unwilling to accept it, considering she had relied on such vast resources from her noble family.

It could be said that her family would move heaven and earth to get her any resource that could boost her cultivation.

Mu Nujiao remembered that Lan Yu was a Light element mage; judging by the magical energy fluctuations during his cultivation, his Light element nebula must be at the second level, with a trend toward entering the third.

That meant his other element had likely reached the Intermediate level.

To use Lan Yu's usual words, what kind of heaven-sent treasures had he been eating?

Time flew by, and when the day of the assessment arrived, Dean Xiao had all the students of the Green Campus gather in a large lecture hall.

Looking at the sea of people, Dean Xiao nodded with secret satisfaction, then he spoke:

"I am very gratified. From the freshman assembly until today, I have seen the growth of many people."

"I remember not long ago, someone brought the Main Campus... No one will sympathize with the weak!"

At this all-school assembly, the usually benevolent Dean Xiao completely changed his demeanor.

His remarks ultimately made many people feel uncomfortable; their beloved Dean Xiao seemed like a devil who disregarded everything.

"All students whose cultivation has not reached the Intermediate level are strictly disqualified from participating in the Main Campus assessment."

"You only have three years left on the Green Campus. During these three years, you will still enjoy the resources and privileges provided by the school. If you still cannot break through to the Intermediate level after three years, then please do not identify yourselves as students of Pearl Academy in the future!"

However, these words struck the entire lecture hall like a bolt of lightning, crashing into the minds of every student.

Seeing that the students who hadn't broken through to the Intermediate level remained motionless, Dean Xiao intensified his tone:

"Have you still not understood? The weak are not fit to be students of Pearl Academy. What you need to do now is work hard so that you can stand here with your heads held high next year!"

In the sea of people, even though resentment filled the air, no one dared to offer a single word of rebuttal to Dean Xiao's remarks.

Gradually, some began to take steps toward the exit of the lecture hall.

In the end, only one thousand students remained, a number that exceeded many people's expectations.

"To those who stayed, congratulations on entering the Main Campus of Pearl Academy." Dean Xiao's tone shifted, returning to that of the kind-hearted old professor he was on normal days.

"No way, we just got in like that?"

"Shouldn't there be an assessment?"

"..."

Dean Xiao had long anticipated this situation.

He waited for the students' discussions to die down before taking a rolled-up scroll from his robes.

"I received information a few days ago that a Shadow Beast, which the government was using for domestication, escaped overnight due to a management error..."

"Your assessment task is to capture this Shadow Beast alive and deliver it to the beast-taming cage provided by the school."

"It is worth noting that the Shadow Beast will not actively attack humans, but if it feels its life is threatened, its temperament will change drastically, reaching a level of danger second only to a demon. Therefore, when you find the Shadow Beast and intend to take it down, please plan carefully."

"This assessment will last for one week. Whether as individuals or in teams of five, as long as you capture the Shadow Beast and deliver it to the school's beast-taming cage, you will receive the same reward. The reward is a chance to enter the Three-Step Tower!"

"The Three-Step Tower!"

"My god, it's actually the Three-Step Tower!"

As soon as Dean Xiao uttered those final words, the thousand students present felt like they were going insane.

What did they come to Pearl Academy for? Beyond the cultivation resources, the biggest draw was precisely this Three-Step Tower!

The Three-Step Tower—even the seniors in the main campus would fight tooth and nail for a chance to enter it!

The Three-Step Tower!

Lan Yu felt a surge of excitement as well; he was determined to make his breakthrough to the Advanced Level of the Light Element this time.

"Dean, aren't there any clues or hints?" someone couldn't help but ask.

Dean Xiao shook his head. "That is something you must find for yourselves."

Excitement aside, this task, which lacked any clear direction, stumped a large group of people right from the start.

The entire Magic City, including its suburbs, covered a vast area with tens of thousands of alleys and streets. Furthermore, they couldn't even confirm the location of the Shadow Beast, let alone capture it.

Moreover, this Shadow Beast possessed Shadow Element abilities; trying to find it was no different than looking for a needle in a haystack.

Fortunately, for Lan Yu, who possessed a god's-eye view, none of this was an issue.

He promptly dialed a number and called Lingling:

"Brat, do me a favor if you're free."

"..." There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by the exasperated voice of the little girl Lingling: "You jerk, calling me a brat every other breath and treating me like a servant... I'm busy, I won't help!"

"Don't be shy. Our little Lingling is beautiful and kind-hearted; a small matter like this is a piece of cake for you..."

Lan Yu considered himself quite experienced in dealing with a brat like Lingling.

It was just like stroking a pet cat; you had to go with the grain.

"Alright, alright, that line is already outdated." Lingling cut Lan Yu off. "Speak your piece or be gone. What's the situation?"

Lan Yu smiled and proceeded to explain the general situation to Lingling.