Just like that, Lan Yu spent a whole month inside the Mandarin Duck Pot before his Summoning Element forcibly teleported him back to the magical world.
He glanced at the calendar and realized that only three days had passed.
He'd originally planned to hunt some game in Sunset Forest this time and let Momo have her fill.
But Dugu Bo had stubbornly stood guard outside the Mandarin Duck Pot, making Lan Yu too afraid to go out.
Fortunately, he'd prepared enough food and water for a whole month. Otherwise, he really would've had to return to the magical world early.
Before long, the new semester began.
But as soon as it started, a new piece of news spread across the entire academy.
The great devil Mo Fan had nearly killed a Wind Element senior the day before classes began!
The news spread like wildfire, doubling Mo Fan's already terrible reputation.
"This is hilarious! Those three were planning to ambush you, but the great devil ran into them instead." In the apartment building's first-floor lobby, Ai Tutu laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.
"Let's just say he was lucky," Lan Yu said.
Speaking of which, how much was the bounty on the Blue Deacon?
If he remembered right, it was 120 million, wasn't it?
He'd have Momo secretly follow Grey One and then get the Blue Deacon's name from Yu Ang.
120 million. Sweet!
After reminding Ai Tutu about something, Lan Yu went out to the balcony to cultivate.
Ai Tutu understood and headed upstairs to her room.
Lan Yu had barely settled into cultivation when Mu Nujiao came downstairs.
Looking through the glass at Lan Yu on the balcony bench, Mu Nujiao sighed softly. How was this guy's cultivation progressing so quickly?
She was a little unwilling to accept it. After all, she had relied on her family's enormous resources.
Her family had gone to every length to obtain any resource that could help her improve her cultivation.
Mu Nujiao remembered that Lan Yu was a Light Element mage. Judging by the magical fluctuations while he cultivated, his Light Element Nebula had to have reached the second level, and might even be on the verge of entering the third.
That meant his other Element had probably reached Intermediate Level.
As Lan Yu would often put it, what kind of rare treasures had he been eating?
Time flew by, and the day of the assessment arrived. Dean Xiao summoned all the Green Campus students to a large auditorium.
Looking out at the vast crowd, Dean Xiao nodded to himself in quiet satisfaction, then spoke:
"I'm pleased. From the freshman assembly until today, I've seen many of you grow."
"Remember, not long ago someone challenged the Main Campus... no one will take pity on the weak!"
At this school-wide assembly, the usually benevolent Dean Xiao had completely changed his tune.
His words made many people uncomfortable. Their beloved Dean Xiao seemed to have become a devil who looked upon everything with indifference.
"Any student who hasn't reached Intermediate Level is ineligible to take the Main Campus assessment."
"You have only three years left at Green Campus. During those three years, you'll still enjoy the resources and privileges provided by the school. But if you still can't break through to Intermediate Level after three years, then please don't call yourselves students of Pearl Academy anymore!"
Those words crashed through the auditorium like a bolt from a clear sky, striking the minds of every student.
Seeing that the students who hadn't reached Intermediate Level remained unmoved, Dean Xiao raised his voice again:
"Have you still not understood? The weak don't deserve to be students of Pearl Academy. What you need to do now is work hard so that next year you can stand here with your heads held high!"
Though resentment surged through the vast crowd, not a single person dared to challenge Dean Xiao's words.
Gradually, some began walking toward the auditorium's exit.
In the end, only a thousand students remained, a number that surprised many.
"Congratulations to those who stayed. You've entered Pearl Academy's Main Campus." Dean Xiao's tone changed, and he became the kind old professor he usually was.
"Wait, that's it? We're in?"
"Wasn't there supposed to be an assessment?"
"..."
Dean Xiao had anticipated this reaction.
He waited until the students' discussion died down, then pulled a rolled-up notice from inside his robe.
"A few days ago, we received word that a Shadow Beast being trained by the government escaped overnight because of a management failure. It was only partially tamed..."
"Your assessment task is to capture the Shadow Beast alive and bring it to the Beast Taming Cage provided by the school."
"One thing worth noting: Shadow Beasts don't attack humans unprovoked. But if their lives are threatened, their temper changes completely. They're less dangerous only than Demon Beasts, so when you find one and plan to capture it, make sure you think it through carefully."
"This assessment will last a week. You may work alone or in teams of five. Anyone who captures the Shadow Beast and brings it to the school's Beast Taming Cage will receive the same reward: one chance to enter the Three-Step Tower!"
"The Three-Step Tower!"
"My god, it's the Three-Step Tower!"
The moment Dean Xiao said those final words, the thousand students present felt like they were going mad.
Why had they worked so hard to get into Pearl Academy? Aside from the cultivation resources, the Three-Step Tower was the biggest draw!
Even senior students from the Main Campus fought tooth and nail for a chance to enter the Three-Step Tower!
The Three-Step Tower!
Lan Yu was a little excited too. He was determined to break through to the advanced level of the Light Element this time.
"Dean, couldn't you give us some clues or hints?" someone asked.
Dean Xiao shook his head. "You'll have to find it yourselves."
Excitement aside, the task was so vague that it stumped a large number of people right from the start.
Magic City and its suburbs covered a vast area, with countless alleys and streets. They had no idea where the Shadow Beast was, so how could they possibly capture it?
Besides, the Shadow Beast possessed the Shadow Element. Finding it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Fortunately, none of that was a problem for Lan Yu, who had an all-seeing perspective.
He called Lingling.
"Little brat, do me a favor if you're free."
"..." There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, followed by the little girl Lingling's furious voice. "You jerk! You keep calling me a little brat and ordering me around like I'm your servant... I'm busy. I'm not helping!"
"Aww, don't be shy. Our Lingling is kind and beautiful. Something this small would be a piece of cake for you..."
Lan Yu considered himself quite experienced at dealing with the little brat Lingling.
It was like petting a cat—you had to stroke her the right way.
"Enough, that trick's old," Lingling cut him off. "State your business, or hang up. What's going on?"
Lan Yu smiled, then explained the situation to Lingling.
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